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[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana as a growing tropical storm nears landfall. Storm Barry has been gathering speed over the Gulf of Mexico in recent days. Officials say sustained wind speeds have grown to 65mph (104km/h) and may reach hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall. It is expected to bring a storm surge and heavy rainfall to the city of New Orleans - which has already seen thunderstorms and flash floods. The National Weather Service warned that flooding from the storm poses a major risk. \"The slow movement of Barry will result in a long duration of heavy rainfall and flood threat along the central Gulf Coast, across portions of the Mississippi Valley and north into the Tennessee Valley,\" it explained. \"Flash flooding and river flooding will become increasingly likely, some of which may be life-threatening\". The president's declaration frees up wide-ranging federal resources which can be used to help in the emergency situation. Barry will test flood defences improved after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left much of New Orleans underwater. The National Weather Service (NWS) say the storm is continuing to crawl at speeds of 3mph towards Louisiana. Forecasters believe it will make landfall early on Saturday morning, local time, before weakening over the Lower Mississippi Valley later this weekend. If sustained winds from the storm exceed 74mph, Storm Barry will be declared a hurricane and become the first of the 2019 Atlantic season. Officials have ordered thousands of residents in some low-lying areas to evacuate. Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, has not issued a city-wide evacuation order because it is not a category three hurricane or above. Residents have been warned to prepare for the storm, by stocking up on drinking water and non-perishable food, as well as other emergency supplies. President Trump's declaration, made in advance of landfall, will make Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources available. The NWS said on Friday that the Mississippi River was expected to crest in New Orleans at about of 17.1ft (5.2m). The US Army Corps of Engineers has maintained it is \"extremely confident\" in the 20-25ft levee system shielding New Orleans. Governor John Bel Edwards described the incoming storm as \"very severe\" - citing National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warnings flooding could be \"life-threatening\". \"This is going to be a major rain event across a huge portion of Louisiana,\" he said on Thursday. \"Look, there are three ways that Louisiana floods: storm surge, high rivers and rain. We're going to have all three.\" Mayor Cantrell has said the New Orleans's anti-flood water pumps are working at \"optimal capacity\" as the storm nears, but warned it will not be enough. She, and other city officials, asked people to bring in their rubbish bins and clear gardens and streets in order to prevent debris from choking street drains and gutters or becoming airborne \"projectiles\". While there is no definitive link between climate change and Storm Barry, rising temperatures are increasingly a factor in making the impact of events like this more intense. As the air has warmed over recent decades it is now able to hold much more moisture, meaning tropical storms are pre-loaded with large amounts of rain. The warming world is also making these storms more sluggish. Over the past seven decades tropical events like Barry have slowed down, going 20-30% less quickly over land in North America. This is what happened with Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when it weakened to a tropical storm and then stalled for days over the Houston area dumping enormous quantities of rainwater which cost lives and did huge damage. Sea levels have also increased as a result of global heating, so if winds are blowing towards shore, this makes flooding much more likely during high tides.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1506, "answer_start": 1107, "text": "The National Weather Service (NWS) say the storm is continuing to crawl at speeds of 3mph towards Louisiana. Forecasters believe it will make landfall early on Saturday morning, local time, before weakening over the Lower Mississippi Valley later this weekend. If sustained winds from the storm exceed 74mph, Storm Barry will be declared a hurricane and become the first of the 2019 Atlantic season." } ], "id": "800_0", "question": "What is the latest with the storm?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Venezuela is engulfed in a political crisis with two rival politicians claiming to be the country's legitimate leader. Venezuela has been governed for the past 20 years by the socialist PSUV party. From 1999 to his death in 2013, Hugo Chavez was president. He was succeeded by his right-hand man, Nicolas Maduro. During its two decades in power, the PSUV has gained control of many key institutions including much of the judiciary, the electoral council and the supreme court. But under President Maduro, Venezuela's economy collapsed. Shortages of basic supplies became widespread, prompting 4.5 million people to leave. In December 2016, opposition parties won a majority in the National Assembly, and the legislature became a thorn in President Maduro's side. In response, he created the National Constituent Assembly, made up exclusively of government supporters whose powers supersede those of the National Assembly. The two bodies have been at loggerheads ever since. Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but the poll was widely dismissed as rigged. National Assembly leader Juan Guaido labelled Mr Maduro a \"usurper\" and declared himself interim president in January 2019. More than 50 countries recognised Mr Guaido but the military has remained loyal to Mr Maduro. Mr Maduro's government has been trying to weaken opponents through a \"divide and rule\" strategy. On 5 January, police prevented Mr Guaido from attending a parliamentary session in which he was standing for re-election as National Assembly leader. While Mr Guaido and other opposition lawmakers were held back, a rival politician, Luis Parra, was elected without a quorum but with the backing of government lawmakers. Undeterred, Mr Guaido moved the session to another location where about 100 lawmakers re-elected him, leaving Venezuela not just with two men claiming the presidency but also with two National Assembly leaders.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1897, "answer_start": 119, "text": "Venezuela has been governed for the past 20 years by the socialist PSUV party. From 1999 to his death in 2013, Hugo Chavez was president. He was succeeded by his right-hand man, Nicolas Maduro. During its two decades in power, the PSUV has gained control of many key institutions including much of the judiciary, the electoral council and the supreme court. But under President Maduro, Venezuela's economy collapsed. Shortages of basic supplies became widespread, prompting 4.5 million people to leave. In December 2016, opposition parties won a majority in the National Assembly, and the legislature became a thorn in President Maduro's side. In response, he created the National Constituent Assembly, made up exclusively of government supporters whose powers supersede those of the National Assembly. The two bodies have been at loggerheads ever since. Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but the poll was widely dismissed as rigged. National Assembly leader Juan Guaido labelled Mr Maduro a \"usurper\" and declared himself interim president in January 2019. More than 50 countries recognised Mr Guaido but the military has remained loyal to Mr Maduro. Mr Maduro's government has been trying to weaken opponents through a \"divide and rule\" strategy. On 5 January, police prevented Mr Guaido from attending a parliamentary session in which he was standing for re-election as National Assembly leader. While Mr Guaido and other opposition lawmakers were held back, a rival politician, Luis Parra, was elected without a quorum but with the backing of government lawmakers. Undeterred, Mr Guaido moved the session to another location where about 100 lawmakers re-elected him, leaving Venezuela not just with two men claiming the presidency but also with two National Assembly leaders." } ], "id": "801_0", "question": "How did this happen?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A plan to advertise a horse race on the sails of the Sydney Opera House has prompted a large backlash in Australia. The World Heritage-listed site will show the advert on Tuesday, after an order by the New South Wales premier. Critics say the decision defies Sydney Opera House rules by effectively creating a \"billboard\" for the racing and gambling industries. But others, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have defended it as positive for the economy and tourism. Since Friday, more than 150,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the opera house to be \"protected\". The Sydney Opera House, inaugurated in 1973, is recognised by the UN as a \"masterpiece of 20th Century architecture\". It was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 2007. Last week, the Sydney Opera House board rejected the advert for the Everest Cup - arguing it was an \"inappropriate\" commercialisation. \"We have a policy that protects our world heritage status,\" chief executive Louise Herron said on radio 2GB on Friday. But state Premier Gladys Berejiklian overturned the decision, approving a revised advert for a 10-minute projection. The amended design retains the word \"Everest\" and jockey numbers - elements that had been classified by the opera house as commercial logos. Adding to the controversy, Ms Berejiklian's order came soon after a top-rating radio host, Alan Jones, berated Ms Herron in an interview on 2GB. \"If I were Gladys Berejiklian, I would pick up the phone and sack you today,\" said Jones, a supporter of the racing event. A Unesco spokesperson told The Guardian it was \"looking into\" the matter, but would not immediately comment. Thousands of people have signalled on social media that they will attend a \"light-based\" protest on Tuesday to disrupt the projection. Among prominent critics, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore called the advert \"blatant commercialisation... for an industry notorious for damaging gambling and animal cruelty\". However, Ms Berejiklian and Mr Morrison have defended the race's economic benefits. \"This is one of the biggest events of the year... why not put it on the biggest billboard Sydney has?\" Mr Morrison said on Sunday. Others accused Jones of bullying Ms Herron, while the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Ms Berejiklian had handed him and the racing industry \"a massive public relations and promotional victory\". The building's sails are often illuminated for art and cultural events - such as for Vivid Sydney, an annual light festival. It also displayed the logo of the national rugby team in 2015, and cricket's Ashes urn after Australia's series victory earlier this year.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1541, "answer_start": 762, "text": "Last week, the Sydney Opera House board rejected the advert for the Everest Cup - arguing it was an \"inappropriate\" commercialisation. \"We have a policy that protects our world heritage status,\" chief executive Louise Herron said on radio 2GB on Friday. But state Premier Gladys Berejiklian overturned the decision, approving a revised advert for a 10-minute projection. The amended design retains the word \"Everest\" and jockey numbers - elements that had been classified by the opera house as commercial logos. Adding to the controversy, Ms Berejiklian's order came soon after a top-rating radio host, Alan Jones, berated Ms Herron in an interview on 2GB. \"If I were Gladys Berejiklian, I would pick up the phone and sack you today,\" said Jones, a supporter of the racing event." } ], "id": "802_0", "question": "What prompted the controversy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2371, "answer_start": 1542, "text": "A Unesco spokesperson told The Guardian it was \"looking into\" the matter, but would not immediately comment. Thousands of people have signalled on social media that they will attend a \"light-based\" protest on Tuesday to disrupt the projection. Among prominent critics, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore called the advert \"blatant commercialisation... for an industry notorious for damaging gambling and animal cruelty\". However, Ms Berejiklian and Mr Morrison have defended the race's economic benefits. \"This is one of the biggest events of the year... why not put it on the biggest billboard Sydney has?\" Mr Morrison said on Sunday. Others accused Jones of bullying Ms Herron, while the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Ms Berejiklian had handed him and the racing industry \"a massive public relations and promotional victory\"." } ], "id": "802_1", "question": "What's been the reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2635, "answer_start": 2372, "text": "The building's sails are often illuminated for art and cultural events - such as for Vivid Sydney, an annual light festival. It also displayed the logo of the national rugby team in 2015, and cricket's Ashes urn after Australia's series victory earlier this year." } ], "id": "802_2", "question": "Has the opera house been lit up before?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Karen Gormley describes herself as \"smiley and quite shy\", but says people see her differently simply because of the size of her breasts. The 45-year-old, from Preston, Lancashire, got in touch with BBC News after the furore over Emma Watson's Vanity Fair photoshoot. Karen says women, in particular, are guilty of judging her character just by her appearance. This is her story: \"I am petite with large breasts. I am 5ft 2. When I was last measured years ago I was a 28G. People assume that my shape means I am promiscuous. I found it all-too familiar when Emma Watson was criticised as being anti-feminist for showing part of her breasts in a magazine photoshoot. Women who are up in arms about it aren't doing us any favours. I'm also a feminist and believe women should be able to wear whatever they like. Unlike Emma, I'm too shy to be in photographs, but as soon as I wear fitted clothes or a lower neckline, I'm branded as attention-seeking. It began when I was 14. I noticed that middle-aged men would follow me. I was in school uniform but it happened every time I went into town. It was really frightening. But it wasn't always men. A female teacher once told me I couldn't wear a pinafore dress even though it was school uniform because I wasn't \"covered up\". I felt on edge all the time and began wearing baggy clothes, so people thought I was fat. When I was 16 I braved wearing a fitted dress for a party. It wasn't low cut but my cleavage showed a bit - suddenly my friends gasped at how much \"weight\" I'd lost. The worst thing that ever happened was when I was 21 and my boyfriend at the time introduced me to his brother. Instead of saying \"Nice to meet you\" he pointed at my chest and said \"Look at the size of them!\". As part of my job working with young offenders, I have worked in offices full of men and have constantly dealt with comments. I was always seen as the \"easy\" woman to flirt with. I am planning a breast reduction, which I can get on the NHS, due to the size of my breasts, which cause me back problems. The decision is to do with my health but also the way I've been treated. It was a friend-of-a-friend's comment that proved the last straw. She said that I only get attention because I have big boobs. It made me feel like I am nothing except for what hangs on my chest. I don't want to be that person. I have two daughters - 17 and 22 - who are both very pretty and a similar shape to me, and I see them going through the same thing. I used to be over-protective and tell them to take pictures off Facebook, but I don't want my problem to become their problem too. I just tell them that if you wear low-cut stuff, somebody will judge you to have a certain character you don't have. It's not your fault and they don't have the right to do that, but they will. But my daughters aren't shy like me and would tear a strip off anyone who bothers them!\" A nasty remark on social media or even a well-meaning comment from a friend can be hugely damaging to a person's body image - and even drive someone to opt for surgery, according to psychologists. About half of UK women are unhappy with their body shape, which can lead to low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders and body dysmorphias. Dr Emma Halliwell, a psychologist at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, thinks body image is an \"issue that impacts upon all aspects of girls' and women's lives\". Her research into body confidence has found that \"society teaches girls that their appearance is intrinsically linked to their value as a person\". Women are bombarded with a \"beauty ideal\" - one body type, one look, one shape, one colour, one breast or buttock - which is reinforced by friends, on Facebook and in magazines and music videos, she says. As a result, adult women may skip work or a job interview if they feel negative about their looks. \"We need to challenge these messages that female appearance is of central importance,\" she says.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3979, "answer_start": 2886, "text": "A nasty remark on social media or even a well-meaning comment from a friend can be hugely damaging to a person's body image - and even drive someone to opt for surgery, according to psychologists. About half of UK women are unhappy with their body shape, which can lead to low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders and body dysmorphias. Dr Emma Halliwell, a psychologist at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, thinks body image is an \"issue that impacts upon all aspects of girls' and women's lives\". Her research into body confidence has found that \"society teaches girls that their appearance is intrinsically linked to their value as a person\". Women are bombarded with a \"beauty ideal\" - one body type, one look, one shape, one colour, one breast or buttock - which is reinforced by friends, on Facebook and in magazines and music videos, she says. As a result, adult women may skip work or a job interview if they feel negative about their looks. \"We need to challenge these messages that female appearance is of central importance,\" she says." } ], "id": "803_0", "question": "How harmful are comments to body image?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "One of North Korea's most senior officials is travelling to New York, as preparations for a planned summit gather pace. Former intelligence chief Gen Kim Yong-chol is the most senior North Korean official to visit the US since 2000. US President Donald Trump confirmed the news on Tuesday, saying he had put \"a great team together\" for the talks. The proposed meeting with Kim Jong-un was thrown into doubt after Mr Trump announced he was pulling out last week. But both sides have been working to get the summit - scheduled for 12 June in Singapore - back on track. It would be the first time a North Korean leader has met a sitting US president. The introduction of Gen Kim to negotiations is significant, as it underlines North Korea's desire to ensure the talks go ahead. A former spy chief, he has been part of recent high-profile diplomatic overtures by the North. South Korean news agency Yonhap had reported earlier on Tuesday that Gen Kim was due to fly to New York on Wednesday, after speaking with Chinese officials in Beijing. Confirming the news, Mr Trump said that meetings were under way about the summit \"and more\". Gen Kim, 72, is a controversial figure in neighbouring South Korea, and previously served as a negotiator in inter-Korean talks. During his time as a military intelligence head, he was accused of being behind attacks on South Korean targets, including the torpedoing of a South Korea warship which killed 46 seamen, as well as the 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures. As a result of these incidents, the US imposed personal sanctions on Gen Kim in 2010 and 2015. Despite reportedly being punished for an \"overbearing attitude\" in 2016, he has continued to hold senior posts in the army and party, and was the head of North Korea's delegation to the closing ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea. The influential figure is regularly seen at the North Korean leader's side and has attended meetings with the leaders of China and South Korea, and met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Pyongyang. In February, he was sent to the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, where he sat close to Mr Trump's daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump. Also on Tuesday, a \"pre-advance\" team from the US was due to meet North Korean officials in Singapore, US officials said. It follows a weekend of busy diplomacy, headlined by a surprise meeting between South Korea President Moon and Mr Kim in the border town of Panmunjom. At the meeting the pair agreed that the North Korea-US summit must be held. The details of the potential US-North Korea meeting remain unclear, but discussions would address Pyongyang's nuclear programme and ways to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula. Gen Kim's visit to the US will be the most high-profile visit by a member of the North Korean regime since top military official Jo Myong-rok travelled to Washington in 2000, where he met President Bill Clinton and became the first North Korean officer to enter the Pentagon.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1847, "answer_start": 1132, "text": "Gen Kim, 72, is a controversial figure in neighbouring South Korea, and previously served as a negotiator in inter-Korean talks. During his time as a military intelligence head, he was accused of being behind attacks on South Korean targets, including the torpedoing of a South Korea warship which killed 46 seamen, as well as the 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures. As a result of these incidents, the US imposed personal sanctions on Gen Kim in 2010 and 2015. Despite reportedly being punished for an \"overbearing attitude\" in 2016, he has continued to hold senior posts in the army and party, and was the head of North Korea's delegation to the closing ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea." } ], "id": "804_0", "question": "Who is General Kim Yong-chol?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The images are murky at first. Sediment sweeps past the camera as Icefin, a bright yellow remotely operated robot submarine, moves tentatively forward under the ice. Then the waters begin to clear. Icefin is under almost half a mile (600m) of ice, at the front of one the fastest-changing large glaciers in the world. Suddenly a shadow looms above, an overhanging cliff of dirt-encrusted ice. It doesn't look like much, but this is a unique image - the first ever pictures from a frontier that is changing our world. Icefin has reached the point at which the warm ocean water meets the wall of ice at the front of the mighty Thwaites glacier - the point where this vast body of ice begins to melt. Glaciologists have described Thwaites as the \"most important\" glacier in the world, the \"riskiest\" glacier, even the \"doomsday\" glacier. It is massive - roughly the size of Britain. It already accounts for 4% of world sea level rise each year - a huge figure for a single glacier - and satellite data show that it is melting increasingly rapidly. There is enough water locked up in it to raise world sea level by more than half a metre. And Thwaites sits like a keystone right in the centre of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet - a vast basin of ice that contains more than 3m of additional potential sea level rise. Yet, until this year, no-one has attempted a large-scale scientific survey on the glacier. The Icefin team, along with 40 or so other scientists, are part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, a five-year, $50m (PS38m) joint UK-US effort to understand why it is changing so rapidly. The project represents the biggest and most complex scientific field programme in Antarctic history. You may be surprised that so little is known about such an important glacier - I certainly was when I was invited to cover the work of the team. I quickly discover why as I try to get there myself. Snow on the ice runway delays my flight from New Zealand to McMurdo, the main US research station in Antarctica. This is the first of a whole catalogue of delays and disruptions. It takes the science teams weeks just to get to their field camps. At one stage, the entire season's research is on the point of being cancelled because storms stop all flights to West Antarctica from McMurdo for 17 consecutive days. West Antarctica is the stormiest part of the world's stormiest continent. And Thwaites is remote even by Antarctic standards, more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) from the nearest research station. Only four people have ever been on the front of the glacier before and they were the advance party for this year's work. But understanding what is happening here is essential for scientists to be able to predict future sea level rise accurately. The ice in Antarctica holds 90% of the world's fresh water, and 80% of that ice is in the eastern part of the continent. The ice in East Antarctica is thick - more than a mile thick on average - but it rests on high ground and only creeps sluggishly to the sea. Some of it has been around for millions of years. Western Antarctica, however, is very different. It is smaller but still huge, and is much more vulnerable to change. Unlike the east it doesn't rest on high ground. In fact, virtually the whole bed is way below sea level. If it weren't for the ice, it would be deep ocean with a few islands. I've been in Antarctica five weeks before I finally board the red British Antarctic Survey Twin Otter that takes me to the front of the glacier. I will be camping with the team at what is known as the grounding zone. They are camped on the ice above the point where the glacier meets the ocean water, and have the most ambitious task of all. They want to drill down through almost half a mile of ice right at the point where the glacier goes afloat. No-one has ever done that on a glacier this big and dynamic. They will use the hole to get access to the sea water that is melting the glacier to find out where it is from and why it is attacking the glacier so vigorously. They do not have long. All the delays mean there are just a few weeks of the Antarctic summer left before the weather starts to get really bad. As the members of the drilling team set up their equipment, I help out with a seismic survey of the bed beneath the glacier. Dr Kiya Riverman, a glaciologist at the University of Oregon, drills down with an ice auger - a large spiral stainless-steel drill bit - and sets small explosive charges. The rest of us dig holes in the ice for the \"georods\" and \"geophones\" - the electronic ears that listen to the echo of the blast that bounces back from the bedrock through the layers of water and ice. The reason the scientists are so worried about Thwaites is because of that downward sloping submarine bed. It means the glacier gets thicker and thicker as you go inland. At its deepest point, the base of the glacier is more than a mile below sea level and there is another mile of ice on top of that. What appears to be happening is that deep warm ocean water is flowing to the coast and down to the ice front, melting the glacier. As the glacier retreats back, yet more ice is exposed. It is a bit like cutting slices from the sharp end of a wedge of cheese. The surface area of each one gets bigger and bigger - providing ever more ice for the water to melt. And that is not the only effect. Gravity means ice wants to be flat. As the front of the glacier melts, the weight of the vast reservoir of ice behind it pushes forward. It wants to \"smoosh out,\" explains Dr Riverman. The higher the ice cliff, she says, the more \"smooshing\" the glacier wants to do. So, the more the glacier melts, the more quickly the ice in it is likely to flow. \"The fear is these processes will just accelerate,\" she says. \"It is a feedback loop, a vicious cycle.\" Doing science of this scale in such an extreme environment is not just about flying a few scientists to a remote location. They need tonnes of specialist equipment and tens of thousands of litres of fuel, as well as tents and other camping supplies and food. I camped on the ice for a month, some of the scientists will be out there for far longer, two months or more. It took more than a dozen flights by the US Antarctic programme's fleet of huge ski-equipped Hercules cargo planes just to get the scientists and some of their cargo to the project's main staging post in the middle of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Then smaller planes - an elderly Dakota and a couple of Twin Otters - ferried the people and supplies on to the field camps, hundreds of miles down the glacier towards the sea. The distances are so great they needed to set up another camp halfway down the glacier so the planes could refuel. The British Antarctic Survey's contribution was an epic overland journey that brought in hundreds of tonnes of fuel and cargo. Two ice-hardened ships docked alongside an ice cliff at the foot of the Antarctic Peninsula during the last Antarctic summer. A team of drivers in specialist snow vehicles then dragged it more than a thousand miles across the ice sheet through some of the most inhospitable terrain and weather on earth. It was tough going, the top speed was just 10mph. The scientists at the grounding zone camp plan to use hot water to drill their hole through the ice. They need 10,000 litres of water, which means melting 10 tonnes of snow. Everyone sets to work with spades, hefting snow into the \"flubber\" - a rubber container the size of a small swimming pool. \"It'll be the most southerly jacuzzi in the world,\" jokes Paul Anker, a British Antarctic Survey drilling engineer. The principle is simple - you heat the water with a bank of boilers to just below boiling point and then spray it onto the ice, melting your way down. But drilling a 30cm hole through almost half a mile of ice at the front of the most remote glacier in the world is not easy. The ice is about -25C (-13F) so the hole is liable to freeze over and the whole process is dependent on the vagaries of the weather. By early January, the flubber is full and all the equipment is ready but then we get a warning that yet another storm is on its way. Antarctic storms can be very intense. It is not unusual to have hurricane force winds as well as very low temperatures. This one is relatively mild for Antarctica but still involves three days of wind gusting up to 50mph. It blows huge drifts of snow into the camp, swamping the equipment, and all the work stops. We sit in the mess tent playing cards and drinking tea and the scientists discuss why the glacier is retreating so rapidly. They say what is happening here is down to the complex interplay of climate, weather and ocean currents. The key is the warm seawater, which originates on the other side of the world. As the Gulf Stream cools between Greenland and Iceland, the water sinks. This water is salty, which makes it relatively heavy, but is still a degree or two above freezing. This heavy salty water is carried by a deep ocean current called the Atlantic conveyor all the way down to the south Atlantic. Here it becomes part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, flowing deep - a third of a mile (530m) - below a layer of much colder water. The surface water in Antarctica is very cold, just above -2C degrees, the freezing point of salt water. The deep warm circumpolar water travels all the way around the continent but has been increasingly encroaching on the icy edge of West Antarctica. This is where our changing climate comes in. The scientists say the Pacific Ocean is warming up and that is shifting wind patterns off the coast of West Antarctica, allowing the warm deep water to well up over the continental shelf. \"The deep Antarctic circumpolar water is only a handful of degrees warmer than the water above it - a degree or two above 0C - but that's warm enough to light this glacier up,\" says David Holland, an oceanographer with New York University and one of the lead scientists at the grounding zone camp. I was supposed to leave Antarctica at the end of December but all the delays mean the drilling only begins on 7 January. That is when the satellite phone call comes from the United States Antarctic Program HQ in McMurdo. We are told we cannot delay our flights off the continent any longer and must leave on the supply plane that is due to arrive at the camp in an hour or so. It is very frustrating to be forced to leave before the hole is finished and the instruments have been deployed, especially given how long it took to get here. We say our goodbyes and board the plane. I look back and see the wheel at the top of the drill turning, the black hose spooling out steadily. They are almost half way down through the ice. The plane flies up over the camp and directly north, out towards the ocean. The scientists had told me that we had been camped on what is basically a small bay of ice protected by a horseshoe of raised ground. As we fly out over the front of the glacier, I realise with a shock just how fragile a fingerhold it is. There is no mistaking the epic forces at work here, slowly tearing, ripping and shattering the ice. In some places the great sheet of ice has broken up completely, collapsing into a jumble of massive icebergs which float in drunken chaos. Elsewhere, there are cliffs of ice, some of which rise up almost a mile from the sea bed. The front of the glacier is almost 100 miles wide (160km) and is collapsing into the sea at up to two miles (3km) a year. The scale is staggering and explains why Thwaites is already such an important component of world sea level rise, but I am shocked to discover there is another process that could accelerate its retreat even more. Most glaciers that flow into the sea have what is known as an \"ice pump\". Sea water is salty and dense which makes it heavy. Melt water is fresh and therefore relatively light. As the glacier melts, the fresh water therefore tends to flow upwards, drawing up the heavier warmer sea water behind it. When the sea water is cold, this process is very slow, the ice pump usually just melts a few dozen centimetres a year - easily balanced by the new ice created by falling snow. But warm water transforms the process, according to the scientists. Evidence from other glaciers shows that if you increase the amount of warm water that is reaching the glacier the ice pump works much faster. \"It can set glaciers on fire,\" says Prof Holland, \"increasing melt rates by as much as a hundred-fold.\" The small plane takes us to the camp in the middle of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet but more bad weather means more delays and it is nine days before a Hercules comes to take us back to McMurdo. By then we have been joined by some of the scientists. It has been a very successful season. They have confirmed that the deep circumpolar warm water is getting under the glacier and have collected huge amounts of data. Icefin, the robot submarine, has managed to make five missions, taking a host of measurements in the water beneath the glacier and recording some extraordinary images. It will take years to process all the information the team has gathered and incorporate the findings into the models that are used to project future sea level rise. Thwaites is not going to vanish overnight - the scientists say it will take decades, possibly more than a century. But that should not make us complacent. A metre of sea level rise may not sound much, particularly when you consider that in some places the tide can rise and fall by three or four metres every day. But sea level has a huge effect on the severity of storm surges, says Prof David Vaughan, the director of science at the British Antarctic Survey. Take London. An increase in sea level of 50cm would mean the storm that used to come every thousand years will now come every 100 years. If you increase that to a metre then that millennial storm is likely to come once a decade. \"When you think about it, we shouldn't be surprised by any of this,\" says Prof Vaughan as we are preparing to board the plane that will take us back to New Zealand and then home. Ever-increasing carbon dioxide levels are putting a lot more heat into the atmosphere and the oceans. Heat is energy, and energy drives the weather and ocean currents. Increase the amount of energy in the system, he says, and inevitably big global processes are going to change. \"They already have in the Arctic,\" says Prof Vaughan with a sigh. \"What we are seeing here in the Antarctic is just another huge system responding in its own way.\" Research and graphics by Alison Trowsdale, Becky Dale Lilly Huynh, Irene de la Torre. Photographs by Jemma Cox and David Vaughan. Additional research provided by Professor Andrew Shepherd, Leeds University.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7214, "answer_start": 2320, "text": "West Antarctica is the stormiest part of the world's stormiest continent. And Thwaites is remote even by Antarctic standards, more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) from the nearest research station. Only four people have ever been on the front of the glacier before and they were the advance party for this year's work. But understanding what is happening here is essential for scientists to be able to predict future sea level rise accurately. The ice in Antarctica holds 90% of the world's fresh water, and 80% of that ice is in the eastern part of the continent. The ice in East Antarctica is thick - more than a mile thick on average - but it rests on high ground and only creeps sluggishly to the sea. Some of it has been around for millions of years. Western Antarctica, however, is very different. It is smaller but still huge, and is much more vulnerable to change. Unlike the east it doesn't rest on high ground. In fact, virtually the whole bed is way below sea level. If it weren't for the ice, it would be deep ocean with a few islands. I've been in Antarctica five weeks before I finally board the red British Antarctic Survey Twin Otter that takes me to the front of the glacier. I will be camping with the team at what is known as the grounding zone. They are camped on the ice above the point where the glacier meets the ocean water, and have the most ambitious task of all. They want to drill down through almost half a mile of ice right at the point where the glacier goes afloat. No-one has ever done that on a glacier this big and dynamic. They will use the hole to get access to the sea water that is melting the glacier to find out where it is from and why it is attacking the glacier so vigorously. They do not have long. All the delays mean there are just a few weeks of the Antarctic summer left before the weather starts to get really bad. As the members of the drilling team set up their equipment, I help out with a seismic survey of the bed beneath the glacier. Dr Kiya Riverman, a glaciologist at the University of Oregon, drills down with an ice auger - a large spiral stainless-steel drill bit - and sets small explosive charges. The rest of us dig holes in the ice for the \"georods\" and \"geophones\" - the electronic ears that listen to the echo of the blast that bounces back from the bedrock through the layers of water and ice. The reason the scientists are so worried about Thwaites is because of that downward sloping submarine bed. It means the glacier gets thicker and thicker as you go inland. At its deepest point, the base of the glacier is more than a mile below sea level and there is another mile of ice on top of that. What appears to be happening is that deep warm ocean water is flowing to the coast and down to the ice front, melting the glacier. As the glacier retreats back, yet more ice is exposed. It is a bit like cutting slices from the sharp end of a wedge of cheese. The surface area of each one gets bigger and bigger - providing ever more ice for the water to melt. And that is not the only effect. Gravity means ice wants to be flat. As the front of the glacier melts, the weight of the vast reservoir of ice behind it pushes forward. It wants to \"smoosh out,\" explains Dr Riverman. The higher the ice cliff, she says, the more \"smooshing\" the glacier wants to do. So, the more the glacier melts, the more quickly the ice in it is likely to flow. \"The fear is these processes will just accelerate,\" she says. \"It is a feedback loop, a vicious cycle.\" Doing science of this scale in such an extreme environment is not just about flying a few scientists to a remote location. They need tonnes of specialist equipment and tens of thousands of litres of fuel, as well as tents and other camping supplies and food. I camped on the ice for a month, some of the scientists will be out there for far longer, two months or more. It took more than a dozen flights by the US Antarctic programme's fleet of huge ski-equipped Hercules cargo planes just to get the scientists and some of their cargo to the project's main staging post in the middle of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Then smaller planes - an elderly Dakota and a couple of Twin Otters - ferried the people and supplies on to the field camps, hundreds of miles down the glacier towards the sea. The distances are so great they needed to set up another camp halfway down the glacier so the planes could refuel. The British Antarctic Survey's contribution was an epic overland journey that brought in hundreds of tonnes of fuel and cargo. Two ice-hardened ships docked alongside an ice cliff at the foot of the Antarctic Peninsula during the last Antarctic summer. A team of drivers in specialist snow vehicles then dragged it more than a thousand miles across the ice sheet through some of the most inhospitable terrain and weather on earth. It was tough going, the top speed was just 10mph." } ], "id": "805_0", "question": "Why is Thwaites important?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The news that Oxfam staff used prostitutes in Haiti has led to renewed focus on how the aid sector works, and what measures are in place to prevent abuse by aid workers. Headlines like \"Oxfam faces new sex scandal in South Sudan\" are certainly not flattering, and they come at a time when many countries are debating cutting foreign aid. How does this square with the more standard view of an aid worker: the selfless humanitarian who works in the most difficult conditions in order to improve the lives of the most vulnerable? Of course, there are no perfect saints, and probably no perfect sinners either, in any organisation. But the UN, which regularly uses organisations like Oxfam as implementing partners, is now struggling with a problem many suggest it should have addressed more publically decades ago. This week in Geneva, UN aid agencies took care to express their zero tolerance approach to sexual abuse. \"Every single report or allegation of sexual exploitation, harassment, or abuse is thoroughly assessed,\" said Andrej Mahecic of the UN Refugee Agency. \"If substantiated it leads to sanctions and summary dismissal.\" \"We are in the process of introducing mandatory training for all staff, using existing UN courses on the prevention of sexual harassment and exploitation,\" added Tarik Jasarevic of the World Health Organisation. But is this enough? Andrew MacLeod, a former UN worker who has been highly critical of the UN system, believes they should have been more active long ago. \"No one working in aid will be surprised by this,\" he said. \"This is not just an issue about Oxfam, it's an issue in all aid agencies all over the world.\" Since the Oxfam scandal broke, Mr MacLeod has given numerous interviews, and provided an assessment to the tabloid newspaper The Sun which ran the headline \"UN aid workers raped 60,000 people\". Asked by the BBC to substantiate the figures, Mr MacLeod said: \"I'm not claiming that to be a number of science.\" So where did he get it? By looking at UN figures for 2016, he explained, which suggest there were 311 cases of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers during that year. A further suggestion by the UN that the numbers would be higher led him to double that annual figure, and then multiply it by ten because generally only about 10% of rape cases are reported. That brought to him an approximate figure of 6000, which he then multiplied by ten again to cover a ten year period. \"Sensationalist and bombastic, zero creds,\" was the reaction of one female aid worker with years of experience in the field. \"Not the experience of any aid agency I have ever worked with.\" Nevertheless, the UN knows it must now be much more transparent about what it is actually doing to combat cases of abuse. Scandals in the past, such as the sexual exploitation of trafficked women in Bosnia by UN peacekeepers, a \"sex for food\" scandal which implicated the World Food Programme in Liberia, and the abuse of children in the Central African Republic by French peacekeepers have all raised questions about the UN's ability to prevent abuse, and to prosecute it when it does occur. In fact, Judith Greenwood, Executive Director of the CHS (Core Humanitarian Standards) Alliance, says aid agencies and the UN do have \"the tools\" to tackle sexual abuse in the aid sector, although abuse committed by UN peacekeepers remains (at member states' insistence) the responsibility of the countries the peacekeepers come from. Pointing out that the Oxfam Haiti scandal dates back to 2011, Ms Greenwood said a lot of good policy and practice had been adopted since then. \"There is an interagency task team that specifically looks at accountability to the affected population. All of our member organisations (all the major aid agencies, including Oxfam) have to have clear procedures in place to tackle exploitation and abuse.\" Meanwhile Unicef says any allegations of abuse of children in its care are referred to its executive director within 48 hours. They added: \"We are training our staff continuously in this, and we are improving our assistance to victims.\" The UN this week also responded sharply to Andrew MacLeod's suggestion that UN aid workers committing abuse could get away with it because they enjoyed diplomatic immunity. \"Let's be clear about this. The answer is no,\" tweeted the secretary general's spokesperson. \"Sexual abuse is a crime. The UN does not and will not claim immunity in such cases.\" But tweets and restatements of existing policy may not be enough to calm this debate, especially if there are more revelations of historic scandals. UN aid agencies are currently trying to deal with an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises, from Syria, to Yemen, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Privately senior UN officials are concerned that the headlines may lead to a substantial loss of public support, and a consequent major cut in funding. That's an outcome that won't help anyone, they argue. And here, even UN critic Andrew MacLeod agrees. \"This is not an excuse to cut aid. This is an excuse to fix aid.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5063, "answer_start": 1655, "text": "Since the Oxfam scandal broke, Mr MacLeod has given numerous interviews, and provided an assessment to the tabloid newspaper The Sun which ran the headline \"UN aid workers raped 60,000 people\". Asked by the BBC to substantiate the figures, Mr MacLeod said: \"I'm not claiming that to be a number of science.\" So where did he get it? By looking at UN figures for 2016, he explained, which suggest there were 311 cases of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers during that year. A further suggestion by the UN that the numbers would be higher led him to double that annual figure, and then multiply it by ten because generally only about 10% of rape cases are reported. That brought to him an approximate figure of 6000, which he then multiplied by ten again to cover a ten year period. \"Sensationalist and bombastic, zero creds,\" was the reaction of one female aid worker with years of experience in the field. \"Not the experience of any aid agency I have ever worked with.\" Nevertheless, the UN knows it must now be much more transparent about what it is actually doing to combat cases of abuse. Scandals in the past, such as the sexual exploitation of trafficked women in Bosnia by UN peacekeepers, a \"sex for food\" scandal which implicated the World Food Programme in Liberia, and the abuse of children in the Central African Republic by French peacekeepers have all raised questions about the UN's ability to prevent abuse, and to prosecute it when it does occur. In fact, Judith Greenwood, Executive Director of the CHS (Core Humanitarian Standards) Alliance, says aid agencies and the UN do have \"the tools\" to tackle sexual abuse in the aid sector, although abuse committed by UN peacekeepers remains (at member states' insistence) the responsibility of the countries the peacekeepers come from. Pointing out that the Oxfam Haiti scandal dates back to 2011, Ms Greenwood said a lot of good policy and practice had been adopted since then. \"There is an interagency task team that specifically looks at accountability to the affected population. All of our member organisations (all the major aid agencies, including Oxfam) have to have clear procedures in place to tackle exploitation and abuse.\" Meanwhile Unicef says any allegations of abuse of children in its care are referred to its executive director within 48 hours. They added: \"We are training our staff continuously in this, and we are improving our assistance to victims.\" The UN this week also responded sharply to Andrew MacLeod's suggestion that UN aid workers committing abuse could get away with it because they enjoyed diplomatic immunity. \"Let's be clear about this. The answer is no,\" tweeted the secretary general's spokesperson. \"Sexual abuse is a crime. The UN does not and will not claim immunity in such cases.\" But tweets and restatements of existing policy may not be enough to calm this debate, especially if there are more revelations of historic scandals. UN aid agencies are currently trying to deal with an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises, from Syria, to Yemen, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Privately senior UN officials are concerned that the headlines may lead to a substantial loss of public support, and a consequent major cut in funding. That's an outcome that won't help anyone, they argue. And here, even UN critic Andrew MacLeod agrees. \"This is not an excuse to cut aid. This is an excuse to fix aid.\"" } ], "id": "806_0", "question": "Sensationalist headlines?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Like many denizens of Washington DC, President Donald Trump is escaping the heat that smothers the nation's capital in August. But his respite is anything but brief. The president will spend 17 days at his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for what the White House bills as a \"working vacation\". For someone who brands himself as an indefatigable worker, the two-and-a-half week holiday has raised a few eyebrows. In his 2004 book, Think Like a Billionaire, Mr Trump offered the advice: \"Don't take vacations. What's the point? If you're not enjoying your work, you're in the wrong job.\" However, the president's departure is also part of a planned renovation. The entire West Wing staff is required to vacate the premises in August while the building's 27-year-old heating, air conditioning and ventilation system is replaced, according to White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters. Other maintenance includes repairing steps on the side of the executive mansion facing the National Mall as well as painting, replacing carpets and curtains, and fixing, ahem, water leaks in the press office. Why is Trump being criticised? Mr Trump often carped about President Barack Obama's penchant for golf. But as critics point out, Mr Trump's 17-day holiday is nearly twice as long as the one Mr Obama took in August during his first year. If weekends are included, that means he's taking off 13 days, compared with Mr Obama's eight. \"I'm going to be working for you, I'm not going to have time to go play golf,\" Mr Trump told a Virginia crowd during the campaign, in a jibe at Mr Obama. Before Mr Obama's August 2009 holiday in Martha's Vineyard, he took two other vacations that were said to entail work, including a weekend trip to Arizona and Colorado and a four-day trip to the family home in Chicago for Valentine's Day. Donald Trump's golf hobby under scrutiny with Clinton tweet By comparison, Mr Trump has taken 11 such \"working\" vacations before this month to his properties in Palm Beach, Florida, and New Jersey. He also spent a weekend in June at the government-owned presidential retreat, Camp David, Maryland. Mr Obama was labelled a hypocrite, too, after writing in his 2008 book The Audacity of Hope that no president should take vacations. Mr Trump told 60 Minutes in November: \"There's just so much to be done, so I don't think we'll be very big on vacations, no.\" Last month, he told Republican senators to cancel their holidays until lawmakers could pass a plan to overturn the health law known as Obamacare. The bill failed to pass the Senate, and Congress has adjourned for summer recess until 5 September. Newsweek's cover on Thursday depicted the president lounging in a reclining chair calling him a \"Lazy Boy\". \"Imagine how bad he'd feel if he did any work,\" the magazine sniped. Some Bedminster residents are also irked by Mr Trump's extended stay at his central New Jersey property. Protecting the president often means increased security inconveniences members of the public. The local airport has been shut down until 20 August, grounding 110 private planes and 60 flight school students. The Secret Service also said it would use an unmanned drone during Mr Trump's stay, with optical and infrared cameras. Roads may be closed to clear the way for the commander-in-chief's motorcade. The tradition of presidential vacations extends as far back as George Washington, who much preferred spending time at his Mount Vernon plantation on the Potomac River. But the custom of controversy over presidential absences from the White House is nearly as old. When the capital was still Philadelphia in 1797, President John Adams was criticised for spending several months at his home in Massachusetts, where his sick wife Abigail stayed, as tensions escalated with France. President Harry Truman preferred the palm trees of Key West, Florida, while Ronald Reagan travelled to his California ranch to ride horses, build fences and cut brush, according to Lawrence Knutson, a historian for the White House Historical Association. Famous images show a tanned John F Kennedy at his holiday home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and George HW Bush recharged at his Walker Point residence in Kennebunkport, Maine. President Richard Nixon split his time between his estates in Key Biscayne, Florida, and San Clemente, California. He later came under scrutiny for funnelling millions in public funds towards security and improvements at both residences, including a floating helicopter pad in Biscayne Bay. The US is the only advanced nation that does not mandate paid leave, which is why the American work ethic seems a bit strange to the rest of the world. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, workers in most European countries are legally entitled to 20 days of holiday or more each year. Australia and New Zealand also require employers to allow at least 20 vacation days annually, French employees get as many as 30 days off and Swedes enjoy five whole weeks of holiday. In contrast, most Americans get only two weeks off, but some workers let that time off lapse out of fear of losing their jobs. In 2016, 54% of employees ended the year with unused time off, surrendering 662 million vacation days, according to the US Travel Association's Project Time Off study. In fact, nearly a third of workers are not granted paid sick leave and more than a quarter do not have any personal time off at all, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States such as California and New York have remedied that by requiring employers to offer paid sick leave. Two in three US employees (66%) say they continue to work while on holiday last year, according to a report by jobs site Glassdoor. It remains to be seen how much of Mr Trump's working vacation will be spent running the country instead of a golf cart.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5840, "answer_start": 4518, "text": "The US is the only advanced nation that does not mandate paid leave, which is why the American work ethic seems a bit strange to the rest of the world. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, workers in most European countries are legally entitled to 20 days of holiday or more each year. Australia and New Zealand also require employers to allow at least 20 vacation days annually, French employees get as many as 30 days off and Swedes enjoy five whole weeks of holiday. In contrast, most Americans get only two weeks off, but some workers let that time off lapse out of fear of losing their jobs. In 2016, 54% of employees ended the year with unused time off, surrendering 662 million vacation days, according to the US Travel Association's Project Time Off study. In fact, nearly a third of workers are not granted paid sick leave and more than a quarter do not have any personal time off at all, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States such as California and New York have remedied that by requiring employers to offer paid sick leave. Two in three US employees (66%) say they continue to work while on holiday last year, according to a report by jobs site Glassdoor. It remains to be seen how much of Mr Trump's working vacation will be spent running the country instead of a golf cart." } ], "id": "807_0", "question": "Why do Americans skip holiday?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The CEO of Rappler, a news website critical of the government in the Philippines, has been arrested at its headquarters in Manila. Maria Ressa has been accused of \"cyber-libel\" over a report on a businessman's alleged ties to a former judge. Press freedom advocates see this as an attempt by the government to silence the news organisation. President Rodrigo Duterte has previously denied charges against her are politically motivated. This is the latest in a string of different allegations against Ms Ressa, whose website has been described as \"fake news\" by Mr Duterte. The latest charge against Ms Ressa stems from a seven-year-old report on a businessman's alleged ties to a former judge in the Philippines' top court. The case comes under a controversial \"cyber-libel\" law, which came into force in September 2012, four months after the article in question was published. Officials first filed the case against her in 2017, but it was initially dismissed by the NBI because the one-year limit for bringing libel cases had lapsed. However, in March 2018, the NBI reopened the case. This arrest comes just two months after Ms Ressa posted bail on tax fraud charges, which she says are also \"manufactured\". If she is convicted of just one count of tax fraud, she could serve up to a decade in prison. The cyber-libel charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 years. Speaking to reporters after her arrest, the veteran journalist said she was \"shocked that the rule of law has been broken to a point that I can't see it\". Footage streamed on Facebook showed plain-clothes party officials speaking with Maria Ressa, while several of the site's journalists live-tweeted what was happening. Officers from the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) reportedly ordered them to stop filming and taking photos. Miriam Grace Go, Rappler's news editor, later tweeted that NBI agents had led Ms Ressa out of Rappler's offices. After the arrest, the site's staff had focused their efforts on finding a judge who would allow her to post bail, despite it being the evening. However, reporter Sofia Tomacruz tweeted that the judge had refused their request, meaning that Ms Ressa will have to spend the night in jail. Chay Hofilena, Rappler's head of investigative journalism, had told BBC News that this was their main concern. \"Maria is currently at the National Bureau of Investigations, and we're hoping that she'll be able to file bail tonight, so that she won't have to spend the night there,\" she said. \"We will have to find a judge at a night court who will be willing to grant bail. Our lawyers are currently in the process of finding one.\" Ms Hofilena added that \"if she's able to post bail, then she's free\" and they could focus on their case and the legal process. Howard Johnson, BBC News, Manila Journalists must \"hold the line\" against government attacks, that's what Maria Ressa told me when I interviewed her recently about press freedom in the Philippines. She says politically-motivated legal cases and online troll attacks are being used to try to \"bludgeon the media into silence\". Journalists, including myself, have been at the sharp end of numerous threats by supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte. One post under a Facebook link to a documentary about the president read: \"Howard, watch your back\". Next to it was a skull and cross bones emoji. The president's supporters accuse Rappler and other news organisations of being biased against him. They say too much attention is paid to his bloody drug war and not enough to his other achievements while in office. With multiple cases against Maria Ressa and Rappler, long-drawn-out local court hearings are expected. But with Time magazine awarding Maria Ressa Person of the Year 2018 for her journalism, the world's eyes will be on the Philippine justice system to see which way it rules. Rappler was founded in 2012 by Ms Ressa and three other journalists. Since then it has become known in the Philippines for its hard-hitting investigations. It is also one of the few media organisations in the country that is openly critical of President Duterte, regularly interrogating the accuracy of his public statements and criticising his sometimes deadly policies. In particular, Rappler has published a number of reports critical of Mr Duterte's war on drugs, in which police say around 5,000 people have been killed in the last three years. In December, it also reported on his public admission that he sexually assaulted a maid. The president insists that the site's reporting is \"fake news\", and has banned its reporters from covering his official activities. Last year, the state revoked the site's licence - but Mr Duterte denied that the claims against Rappler and Ms Ressa are politically motivated. Ms Ressa is a veteran Philippine journalist who, before founding Rappler, spent most of her career with CNN - first as the bureau chief in Manila, and then in Jakarta. She was also the US broadcaster's lead investigative reporter on terrorism in Southeast Asia. She has won many international awards for her reporting, and was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for her work holding power to account in an increasingly hostile environment. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has been swift in its condemnation. \"The arrest of... Ressa on the clearly manipulated charge of cyber-libel is a shameless act of persecution by a bully government,\" the union told Reuters. \"The government... now proves it will go to ridiculous lengths to forcibly silence critical media.\" Meanwhile, Rappler's reporters have been tweeting about the arrest with the hashtag #DefendPressFreedom. Observers say that press freedom in the Philippines - once one of the strongest in Asia - has been weakened under Mr Duterte's presidency. Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the country, making it one of the most dangerous in the world for reporters. In 2016, the president was criticised for saying some of those journalists deserved to die.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4766, "answer_start": 3852, "text": "Rappler was founded in 2012 by Ms Ressa and three other journalists. Since then it has become known in the Philippines for its hard-hitting investigations. It is also one of the few media organisations in the country that is openly critical of President Duterte, regularly interrogating the accuracy of his public statements and criticising his sometimes deadly policies. In particular, Rappler has published a number of reports critical of Mr Duterte's war on drugs, in which police say around 5,000 people have been killed in the last three years. In December, it also reported on his public admission that he sexually assaulted a maid. The president insists that the site's reporting is \"fake news\", and has banned its reporters from covering his official activities. Last year, the state revoked the site's licence - but Mr Duterte denied that the claims against Rappler and Ms Ressa are politically motivated." } ], "id": "808_0", "question": "What is Rappler?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5220, "answer_start": 4767, "text": "Ms Ressa is a veteran Philippine journalist who, before founding Rappler, spent most of her career with CNN - first as the bureau chief in Manila, and then in Jakarta. She was also the US broadcaster's lead investigative reporter on terrorism in Southeast Asia. She has won many international awards for her reporting, and was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for her work holding power to account in an increasingly hostile environment." } ], "id": "808_1", "question": "Who is Maria Ressa?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6025, "answer_start": 5221, "text": "The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has been swift in its condemnation. \"The arrest of... Ressa on the clearly manipulated charge of cyber-libel is a shameless act of persecution by a bully government,\" the union told Reuters. \"The government... now proves it will go to ridiculous lengths to forcibly silence critical media.\" Meanwhile, Rappler's reporters have been tweeting about the arrest with the hashtag #DefendPressFreedom. Observers say that press freedom in the Philippines - once one of the strongest in Asia - has been weakened under Mr Duterte's presidency. Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the country, making it one of the most dangerous in the world for reporters. In 2016, the president was criticised for saying some of those journalists deserved to die." } ], "id": "808_2", "question": "What does this mean for journalism in the Philippines?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The European Parliament has voted on the biggest shake-up of data protection laws for 20 years. The data protection regulation's stated aim is to give citizens back control of their personal data as well as simplifying the regulatory environment. It could mean huge fines for companies that breach the law and offer some complex problems about how they store, delete and return data to citizens. Here is a quick guide to what is involved. It is a modernisation of data protection laws drawn up in 1995, before mass internet adoption. Four years in the making, the new laws' stated aim is to strengthen the rights individuals have over their data and make companies take the issue of data protection far more seriously. Although much of the legislation stays the same, the new rules offer \"significant powers around the edges\", according to Peter Church, a technology expert from law firm Linklaters. In December, the EU Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers reached agreement on the General Data Protection Regulation, after months of negotiations, and on Thursday the document went before the European Parliament for a formal vote. The rules will come into force in the summer. Then, member states will have two years to comply. The most significant change will be an increase in the amount of money regulators can fine companies who do not comply with the legislation - up to 4% of their global turnover or 20m euros (PS15.8m), whichever is greater. Having this threat hanging over companies is going to make them to shake up the way they deal with data, says Mr Church. \"People will start taking data protection a lot more seriously,\" he says. It could also stifle innovative uses of data, with companies concerned about \"falling foul of regulation\". Businesses will also be required to show how they are complying with the legislation. \"A regulator could knock on the door, and companies will have to have the mechanics in place and show the systems that they have to achieve compliance, says Ruth Boardman, a partner with law firm Bird and Bird. It also makes it mandatory for large companies to employ a data protection officer. The legislation is fiendishly complicated, though, and many predict it will take companies and regulators a good while to get their heads around it. Data breaches, for example, must be reported within 72 hours - a regulation most agree could be extremely hard for businesses to comply with. The legislation will apply to any company that handles EU citizens' data, even if that company is not based in Europe. It has long been argued consumers often have no idea what happens to their data once they relinquish it to the big technology companies, and it is unclear whether this new set of rules will change that. Companies will have to be more transparent about how they are using data, but this is likely to translate as even more complex privacy policies individuals, if they read them at all, may not fully understand. There are provisions that could increase consumers' rights over their data, but there are big questions about how they will apply in practice. For example, the controversial right to be forgotten is being extended beyond web searches to all aspects of online life - so someone could ask Facebook or another social network to delete their profile entirely. It is unlikely to extend to news articles that people want removed, which are likely to be protected under freedom of expression rules. Similarly, there is provision in the new regulation for consumers to transfer their data from one service to another. This could be a massive boon for consumers - allowing them to swap internet or email provider more easily and to shop around for services such as utilities and insurance. Questions arise though over how companies would actually give data back, in what format and, more crucially, what data the user is considered to have provided. In the case, for example, of someone wishing to transfer their web email service from Google to Yahoo, \"would it apply just to emails that you sent or could you argue that email replies sent to you have, in effect, been provided by you to Google?\" asks Ms Boardman. Or, in the case of someone wanting to transfer their data from one utility or insurance provider to another or even to many, to ensure they get the best deal, \"your name and address is probably data you provided, but companies could argue that your gas usage is something that they have collected directly\", says Ms Boardman. Privacy is now big business, with consultants and lawyers lining up to advise companies on how to implement the changes and make sure their policies and procedures are in order. The need to have more data protection officers could make companies go on a recruitment drive, but whether there are sufficient people to fill such posts is less clear. Companies could see more legal challenges from individuals and consumer groups that take up privacy issues on behalf of citizens, but they may also see less challenges from individual country regulators, because of a \"one-stop shop\" clause that would put the onus on the regulator in the country in which the company is headquartered to pursue legal action. Regulators are also being given more powers to intervene if they feel another is being too lenient. \"If one regulator is unhappy with how another is dealing with a case, there is a mechanism to get them to toughen up their approach,\" says Mr Church. This could mean regulators take a tougher line on US technology companies such as Google and Facebook. The legislation is as yet untested, and it remains to be seen whether companies will face more legal challenges over how they handle and process data and whether consumers feel they have wrested back control of their information.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 899, "answer_start": 439, "text": "It is a modernisation of data protection laws drawn up in 1995, before mass internet adoption. Four years in the making, the new laws' stated aim is to strengthen the rights individuals have over their data and make companies take the issue of data protection far more seriously. Although much of the legislation stays the same, the new rules offer \"significant powers around the edges\", according to Peter Church, a technology expert from law firm Linklaters." } ], "id": "809_0", "question": "Why was change needed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1239, "answer_start": 900, "text": "In December, the EU Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers reached agreement on the General Data Protection Regulation, after months of negotiations, and on Thursday the document went before the European Parliament for a formal vote. The rules will come into force in the summer. Then, member states will have two years to comply." } ], "id": "809_1", "question": "What is the timeframe?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2554, "answer_start": 1240, "text": "The most significant change will be an increase in the amount of money regulators can fine companies who do not comply with the legislation - up to 4% of their global turnover or 20m euros (PS15.8m), whichever is greater. Having this threat hanging over companies is going to make them to shake up the way they deal with data, says Mr Church. \"People will start taking data protection a lot more seriously,\" he says. It could also stifle innovative uses of data, with companies concerned about \"falling foul of regulation\". Businesses will also be required to show how they are complying with the legislation. \"A regulator could knock on the door, and companies will have to have the mechanics in place and show the systems that they have to achieve compliance, says Ruth Boardman, a partner with law firm Bird and Bird. It also makes it mandatory for large companies to employ a data protection officer. The legislation is fiendishly complicated, though, and many predict it will take companies and regulators a good while to get their heads around it. Data breaches, for example, must be reported within 72 hours - a regulation most agree could be extremely hard for businesses to comply with. The legislation will apply to any company that handles EU citizens' data, even if that company is not based in Europe." } ], "id": "809_2", "question": "What will it mean for companies?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4499, "answer_start": 2555, "text": "It has long been argued consumers often have no idea what happens to their data once they relinquish it to the big technology companies, and it is unclear whether this new set of rules will change that. Companies will have to be more transparent about how they are using data, but this is likely to translate as even more complex privacy policies individuals, if they read them at all, may not fully understand. There are provisions that could increase consumers' rights over their data, but there are big questions about how they will apply in practice. For example, the controversial right to be forgotten is being extended beyond web searches to all aspects of online life - so someone could ask Facebook or another social network to delete their profile entirely. It is unlikely to extend to news articles that people want removed, which are likely to be protected under freedom of expression rules. Similarly, there is provision in the new regulation for consumers to transfer their data from one service to another. This could be a massive boon for consumers - allowing them to swap internet or email provider more easily and to shop around for services such as utilities and insurance. Questions arise though over how companies would actually give data back, in what format and, more crucially, what data the user is considered to have provided. In the case, for example, of someone wishing to transfer their web email service from Google to Yahoo, \"would it apply just to emails that you sent or could you argue that email replies sent to you have, in effect, been provided by you to Google?\" asks Ms Boardman. Or, in the case of someone wanting to transfer their data from one utility or insurance provider to another or even to many, to ensure they get the best deal, \"your name and address is probably data you provided, but companies could argue that your gas usage is something that they have collected directly\", says Ms Boardman." } ], "id": "809_3", "question": "Will it strengthen consumers' rights over their data?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5787, "answer_start": 4500, "text": "Privacy is now big business, with consultants and lawyers lining up to advise companies on how to implement the changes and make sure their policies and procedures are in order. The need to have more data protection officers could make companies go on a recruitment drive, but whether there are sufficient people to fill such posts is less clear. Companies could see more legal challenges from individuals and consumer groups that take up privacy issues on behalf of citizens, but they may also see less challenges from individual country regulators, because of a \"one-stop shop\" clause that would put the onus on the regulator in the country in which the company is headquartered to pursue legal action. Regulators are also being given more powers to intervene if they feel another is being too lenient. \"If one regulator is unhappy with how another is dealing with a case, there is a mechanism to get them to toughen up their approach,\" says Mr Church. This could mean regulators take a tougher line on US technology companies such as Google and Facebook. The legislation is as yet untested, and it remains to be seen whether companies will face more legal challenges over how they handle and process data and whether consumers feel they have wrested back control of their information." } ], "id": "809_4", "question": "What will change?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The CEO of a US-backed academy in Liberia has temporarily resigned after a report found that dozens of girls were allegedly raped by an employee. Katie Meyler, the CEO of charity More Than Me, announced she would step aside after a report by ProPublica and Time magazine revealed the abuse. More Than Me says they have taken steps to safeguard girls at the school, which is devoted to women's empowerment. The group has also created a panel to review the investigation. The non-governmental organisation's (NGO) advisory board recommended an independent investigation into allegations of widespread abuse and negligence at the institution, which exists to protect young Liberian girls from sexual abuse and exploitation. In a statement on Monday, a committee of seven Liberian government agencies said it met twice since the story was published on Thursday, with the aim \"to taking the appropriate legal actions to protect the children and ensure they are safe\", Time magazine reported. The NGO had received almost $600,000 (PS456,000) from the US government, and Ms Meyler had been praised by celebrity philanthropists including Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. She had also received an invitation to the White House by former President Barack Obama. During the Ebola epidemic in 2014, western media organisations - including the BBC - profiled Ms Meyler and her Instagram account, where she documented the struggles of the Liberians she met. She was named among Time Magazine's 2014 Person of the Year, which was dedicated to the first responders to the Ebola crisis. More Than Me now runs 19 schools in Liberia, teaching approximately 4,000 students. According to the investigative report, Ms Meyler entrusted a local man named Macintosh Johnson to recruit vulnerable young girls in the West Point slum of Liberia's capital Monrovia for her school, which opened in 2013. Johnson, who later died from AIDS in prison, was her main contact on the ground while she continued to live outside of Liberia for up to 10 months a year. According to police records, Johnson repeatedly raped several young girls under his care at his home and on school property. Of the 10 girls who testified against Johnson at the time, one tested positive for HIV, according to a statement from More Than Me's Liberian advisory board. After his arrest in 2014, no members of More Than Me attended the trial to testify against him, according to the report. The girls and their families reportedly feared going to charity administrators or public officials because they did not want to risk losing access to the charity's resources such as education, food and health services. The report claims that despite being made aware of the sexual abuse allegations at the school, Ms Meyler and charity officials ignored the crimes. One board member told ProPublica that Ms Meyler called him to say the allegations were \"really, really, really bad\", and perhaps involved \"all the girls over 11\" at the school. Ms Meyler spoke the following day at a Forbes summit on philanthropy where she called the academy \"the best school in Liberia\". In a statement announcing her temporary resignation, Ms Myeler said: \"Over the past 10 years, it has been my life's work to serve in our mission to provide the most vulnerable girls of Liberia with a quality education and opportunities for advancement so they can have better lives. \"My first priority has always been to support these girls.\" The organisation's board of directors denies the claims of negligence saying that they took \"swift and immediate\" action against Johnson - who they view as the sole wrongdoer - after the girls first revealed the sexual abuse. \"It is beyond disheartening and extremely sad to see ProPublica depict the organisation in such a decidedly one-sided, biased and inaccurate manner, and we vigorously deny their characterisation of our actions, or lack thereof,\" the board said in a statement. \"As an organisation whose enduring mission it is to support the most vulnerable girls in Liberia by getting them off the streets and into schools, More Than Me is deeply sorry that in 2013 and 2014, a former staff member who was recommended to us highly was able to exploit his position to commit sexual assault. \"We extend our sincerest apology to the survivors, and continue doing everything within our power to support them, their families and the community at large who have been impacted by this heinous crime.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3116, "answer_start": 1667, "text": "According to the investigative report, Ms Meyler entrusted a local man named Macintosh Johnson to recruit vulnerable young girls in the West Point slum of Liberia's capital Monrovia for her school, which opened in 2013. Johnson, who later died from AIDS in prison, was her main contact on the ground while she continued to live outside of Liberia for up to 10 months a year. According to police records, Johnson repeatedly raped several young girls under his care at his home and on school property. Of the 10 girls who testified against Johnson at the time, one tested positive for HIV, according to a statement from More Than Me's Liberian advisory board. After his arrest in 2014, no members of More Than Me attended the trial to testify against him, according to the report. The girls and their families reportedly feared going to charity administrators or public officials because they did not want to risk losing access to the charity's resources such as education, food and health services. The report claims that despite being made aware of the sexual abuse allegations at the school, Ms Meyler and charity officials ignored the crimes. One board member told ProPublica that Ms Meyler called him to say the allegations were \"really, really, really bad\", and perhaps involved \"all the girls over 11\" at the school. Ms Meyler spoke the following day at a Forbes summit on philanthropy where she called the academy \"the best school in Liberia\"." } ], "id": "810_0", "question": "What is the allegation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4462, "answer_start": 3117, "text": "In a statement announcing her temporary resignation, Ms Myeler said: \"Over the past 10 years, it has been my life's work to serve in our mission to provide the most vulnerable girls of Liberia with a quality education and opportunities for advancement so they can have better lives. \"My first priority has always been to support these girls.\" The organisation's board of directors denies the claims of negligence saying that they took \"swift and immediate\" action against Johnson - who they view as the sole wrongdoer - after the girls first revealed the sexual abuse. \"It is beyond disheartening and extremely sad to see ProPublica depict the organisation in such a decidedly one-sided, biased and inaccurate manner, and we vigorously deny their characterisation of our actions, or lack thereof,\" the board said in a statement. \"As an organisation whose enduring mission it is to support the most vulnerable girls in Liberia by getting them off the streets and into schools, More Than Me is deeply sorry that in 2013 and 2014, a former staff member who was recommended to us highly was able to exploit his position to commit sexual assault. \"We extend our sincerest apology to the survivors, and continue doing everything within our power to support them, their families and the community at large who have been impacted by this heinous crime.\"" } ], "id": "810_1", "question": "What does the charity say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "As the nation anxiously waited for the EU referendum results last month, currency traders were busy making bets on which way the vote would go. The pound started to rise just before the first results came in as traders predicted a win for the Remain side - eventually hitting a high of over $1.50. But as reality sank in and the Leave side pulled away the currency went into freefall touching lows of $1.30, levels not seen since 1985. Since then the pound has had some better days but has still lost over 13% of its value against the dollar. The value of a nation's currency is often described as its effective share price - a gauge of how investors see the strength of the economy. \"The fall in the pound can be seen as a barometer of sentiment in the markets,\" says Jeremy Stretch, a currency analyst at CIBC. \"If a currency falls traders are effectively saying that it needs to go lower to make it attractive enough for them to make investments.\" Despite having fallen to lows we have not seen for 30 years, some in the market think the pound could still fall further against the dollar. \"When you look at how quickly the pound has fallen in the past, I don't think it is beyond the bounds of possibility that we could see the pound in the low $1.20 range against the dollar,\" says Simon Derrick, head of currency research at Bank of New York Mellon. So what does history tell us about one of the key drivers of the UK economy? November 2007: sterling reached $2.11 The pound soared from $1.40 in 2002 right up to $2.10 in October 2007. British tourists flocked to the US as the pound strengthened, often coming backed weighed down with suitcases full of clothes and gadgets. \"It was in some respects the golden days for the UK with a booming financial sector and the sense of 'Cool Britannia' in the country,\" says Prof Albrecht Ritschl an economic historian at the London School of Economics. The pound strengthened as the UK economy boomed, inflation stayed relatively low and interest rates offered a decent return for investors. \"It was a very settled economic environment with few political upheavals, completely different from the post-Brexit world we see today,\" says Howard Archer, an economist at IHS Global Insight. Those heady days of economic boom were replaced with the financial crisis of 2008 which saw the pound collapse as the UK economy fell into recession. The pound fell 35% to lows of about $1.40 in early 2009, before picking up as the UK slowly emerged from the downturn. February 1985: Sterling reached $1.05 Back in February 1985, the pound slid to $1.05. But unlike today it was less a story of pound weakness and more to do with a very strong dollar. The combination of Ronald Reagan as US president and the tenure of Paul Volcker as chairman of the Federal Reserve saw the dollar appreciate 26% between 1980 and 1984. President Reagan instituted a series of tax cuts and spending rises in an attempt to revive the economy. This in turn pushed up long-term interest rates, attracting inflows of capital and pushing up the value of the dollar. Despite the pressure of the strong dollar, the UK economy was performing well at the time with economic growth of 2.3% in 1984 and 4.2% in 1985. The strength of the dollar created international tension which was addressed in an unprecedented meeting of world leaders and central bankers at the Plaza Hotel in New York in September 1985. The central bankers agreed that other currencies should appreciate against the dollar and followed their words with interventions in foreign exchange markets, selling dollars in exchange for other currencies. The actions of those involved in the so-called \"Plaza Accord\" contributed to the dollar falling 40% between 1985 and 1987. The pound gained ground on the dollar in the months that followed, hitting $1.88 in December 1987.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1431, "answer_start": 543, "text": "The value of a nation's currency is often described as its effective share price - a gauge of how investors see the strength of the economy. \"The fall in the pound can be seen as a barometer of sentiment in the markets,\" says Jeremy Stretch, a currency analyst at CIBC. \"If a currency falls traders are effectively saying that it needs to go lower to make it attractive enough for them to make investments.\" Despite having fallen to lows we have not seen for 30 years, some in the market think the pound could still fall further against the dollar. \"When you look at how quickly the pound has fallen in the past, I don't think it is beyond the bounds of possibility that we could see the pound in the low $1.20 range against the dollar,\" says Simon Derrick, head of currency research at Bank of New York Mellon. So what does history tell us about one of the key drivers of the UK economy?" } ], "id": "811_0", "question": "How low could it go?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Queen and Prince Philip were among the guests at the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston. Public relations director Lady Gabriella, 38, is the daughter of the Queen's cousin, Prince Michael of Kent. It was the third royal wedding to be held at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel in less than a year. The Duke of Sussex attended without his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, or their son Archie who was born earlier this month. Prince Harry accompanied Peep Show actress Sophie Winkleman, who is married to Lady Gabriella's brother, Lord Frederick Windsor. The Duke of Cambridge was not at the wedding, because he will be at the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Watford in his role as president of the Football Association. Among the guests - who arrived in vintage buses near St George's Chapel - was the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, and Pippa Middleton, who is the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge and also a friend of the groom. Lady Gabriella and Mr Kingston, 40, have been in a relationship for several years and became engaged last summer on the island of Sark. She is not a working royal and works for a public relations company in London. Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent - whose uncle was King George VI, the Queen's father. Her older brother, Lord Frederick Windsor, is married to actress Sophie Winkleman, who starred as Big Suze in Peep Show. Lady Gabriella works as an arts and travel director for Knightsbridge-based public relations company, Branding Latin America. Known as Ella, she has degrees from Brown University in the US and the University of Oxford. The groom is 40-year-old Thomas Kingston, who works in finance and directs Devonport Capital. According to the Daily Telegraph, he previously held a post at the Foreign Office where he travelled to Baghdad, Iraq, to procure the release of hostages. The ceremony began at 12:00 BST at the 15th Century chapel. Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex - who live nearby and whose first child was born earlier this month - also married at St George's Chapel last May, as did Princess Eugenie and her husband in October.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1898, "answer_start": 1191, "text": "Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent - whose uncle was King George VI, the Queen's father. Her older brother, Lord Frederick Windsor, is married to actress Sophie Winkleman, who starred as Big Suze in Peep Show. Lady Gabriella works as an arts and travel director for Knightsbridge-based public relations company, Branding Latin America. Known as Ella, she has degrees from Brown University in the US and the University of Oxford. The groom is 40-year-old Thomas Kingston, who works in finance and directs Devonport Capital. According to the Daily Telegraph, he previously held a post at the Foreign Office where he travelled to Baghdad, Iraq, to procure the release of hostages." } ], "id": "812_0", "question": "Who is Lady Gabriella Windsor, and who is she marrying?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Internet-connected robots that can stream audio and video are increasingly helping housebound sick children and elderly people keep in touch with teachers, family and friends, combating the scourge of isolation and loneliness. Zoe Johnson, 16, hasn't been to school since she was 12. She went to the doctor in 2014 \"with a bit of a sore throat\", and \"somehow that became A&E [accident and emergency],\" says her mother, Rachel Johnson. The doctors diagnosed myalgic encephalomyelitis, ME for short, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a debilitating illness affecting the nervous and immune systems. Zoe missed a lot of school but was able to continue with her studies with the help of an online tutor. But \"over the years her real-world friendships disappeared because she's not well enough to see anybody,\" says Ms Johnson. For the last three months, though, she has been taking classes alongside her former classmates using a \"telepresence\" robot called AV1. The small, cute-looking robot, made by Oslo-based start-up No Isolation, sits in the classroom and live streams video and audio back to Zoe's tablet or smartphone at home. She can speak through the robot and take part in lessons, also controlling where AV1 is looking. When she wants to ask a question the robot's head starts blinking on and off to alert the teacher. And when she's too tired or sick to participate she can turn AV1's head blue as a signal. \"It makes my life a lot more exciting and makes me feel like I haven't been forgotten,\" Zoe says. With the robot's help she was able to take five GCSE exams this year. \"We're celebrating because she did so much better than we ever dared hope,\" says Ms Johnson. Zoe is going on to study History A-level and is looking forward to doing so \"with my friends, rather than on my own at home\". Karen Dolva, the 27-year old Norwegian co-founder of No Isolation, says a friend working as a nurse in a children's ward \"mentioned these kids were miserable and only seeing their families,\" she says. She and two friends - all three with a background in engineering and technology - talked to the children and discovered that smartphones and messaging apps weren't enough to address their feelings of isolation. \"We realised the kids needed to have a presence somewhere they weren't,\" says Ms Dolva. But the children also said they felt \"more comfortable when they didn't have to be on display\". So although AV1 enables children to see and hear what's going on in the classroom, other children can only hear her voice through the robot's speaker. Other telepresence robots feature two-way video. While many once-deadly conditions are now treatable, it has meant more people living with chronic illnesses, often feeling isolated as a result. In 1960, 1.8% of children in the US had a health condition severe enough to interfere with their usual daily activities. By 2010, this was more than 8%, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. So telepresence robots are growing rapidly in popularity, with No Isolation, the makers of AV1, being joined by the likes of Ohmnilabs, Giraff Technologies, Double Robotics, and Vecna. Robot market analyst Lian Jye Su, at ABI Research, believes the market for telepresence robots will grow from $164m (PS126m) to $237m by 2023. But they're not cheap - AV1 costs PS2,200 or PS167 a month to rent, while Ohmnilabs' Ohmni robot costs from PS1,150. \"You can't cure absence except through presence,\" says Megan Gilmour, a mother of three in Canberra, Australia, who has been campaigning for the introduction of such robots in schools. In 2010, her son Darcy was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder necessitating a bone marrow transplant. He missed two years of school. So in 2012, she started an organisation called Missing School, with two other Australian mothers whose sons had critical illnesses. \"If you ask children what they think of the robots, every single time they say it helps them see their friends,\" says Ms Gilmour. Telepresence robots are also helping combat the loneliness and isolation often felt by older people living alone or stuck in hospital. Dor Skuler, chief executive of Intuition Robotics in Tel Aviv, has developed a robot designed to be a stimulating companion for older people. ElliQ is an artificially intelligent robot Mr Skuler describes as \"a sidekick of sorts that suggests things for you to do: 'Hey, it's really nice out, why don't you stop watching television and go for a walk? Or listen to an opera together, or watch a TED talk',\" he says. The ability to surprise users is key, Mr Skuler believes. \"Once you believe this thing is a little bit alive, then the minute it starts acting like a machine, that magic is broken.\" No Isolation has also designed a device for older people called Komp. It helps family members send pictures, text and video messages to older relatives. The fact that three-quarters of people aged 75 or over are not on the internet is \"quite insane\", says Ms Dolva. With just one button and a TV-sized screen Komp is easy to operate and doesn't require usernames or passwords. Family members use an app to share content which is uploaded as soon as the machine is switched on. But a key challenge for these telepresence robots is connectivity, says Veronica Ahumada Newhart, who studies them for her doctorate at the University of California at Irvine. Schools are built of durable materials, bricks and cinder blocks, which tend to block wi-fi and mobile signals. Users often complain about losing the connection during a lesson. \"They're in the class, doing their stuff, and they get disconnected - then they aren't really there, because class is going on without you,\" says Ms Newhart. Ms Dolva says her company is working to prioritise sound over pictures, if the bandwidth drops or fades out. \"You need to hear what's being said more than a really crisp image at any given second,\" she says. The robots also seem to work best in small classes and rural schools, where students have close bonds with a missing pupil, Ms Newhart adds. For chronically ill children like Zoe, they seem to be making a big difference. - Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5834, "answer_start": 4005, "text": "Telepresence robots are also helping combat the loneliness and isolation often felt by older people living alone or stuck in hospital. Dor Skuler, chief executive of Intuition Robotics in Tel Aviv, has developed a robot designed to be a stimulating companion for older people. ElliQ is an artificially intelligent robot Mr Skuler describes as \"a sidekick of sorts that suggests things for you to do: 'Hey, it's really nice out, why don't you stop watching television and go for a walk? Or listen to an opera together, or watch a TED talk',\" he says. The ability to surprise users is key, Mr Skuler believes. \"Once you believe this thing is a little bit alive, then the minute it starts acting like a machine, that magic is broken.\" No Isolation has also designed a device for older people called Komp. It helps family members send pictures, text and video messages to older relatives. The fact that three-quarters of people aged 75 or over are not on the internet is \"quite insane\", says Ms Dolva. With just one button and a TV-sized screen Komp is easy to operate and doesn't require usernames or passwords. Family members use an app to share content which is uploaded as soon as the machine is switched on. But a key challenge for these telepresence robots is connectivity, says Veronica Ahumada Newhart, who studies them for her doctorate at the University of California at Irvine. Schools are built of durable materials, bricks and cinder blocks, which tend to block wi-fi and mobile signals. Users often complain about losing the connection during a lesson. \"They're in the class, doing their stuff, and they get disconnected - then they aren't really there, because class is going on without you,\" says Ms Newhart. Ms Dolva says her company is working to prioritise sound over pictures, if the bandwidth drops or fades out." } ], "id": "813_0", "question": "A friend indeed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Silicon Valley is so male-dominated that there's a name for the young, brash men who populate the region's many start-ups and high-tech firms: \"brogrammers\". Brogrammers are not your standard, introverted computer programmers. They are a more recent stereotype: the macho, beer swilling players who went to top schools and are often hired by their friends or former fraternity brothers in the technology industry. \"If there's a group of a hundred candidates and they're from multiple different backgrounds, different races, different genders, we noticed across the board there was a certain type of programmer that would still move forward in interviews,\" says Iba Masood, the 27-year-old chief executive and co-founder of Tara.ai, an artificial intelligence project manager that aims to change the world by combating bias. \"The brogrammer,\" says Ms Masood when asked what type of candidate she is referring to. \"It's a type that's known in the Valley.\" Ms Masood's company created Tara, which stands for Talent Acquisition and Recruiting Automation. Tara analyses and ranks programmers' code, removing biographical information such as age, race, gender or where you have worked in the past or where you went to university. The algorithm means that people are judged on the work they have produced rather than who they are or who they know. \"We're very passionate about creating a meritocracy,\" says Ms Masood, who along with her co-founder Syed Ahmed, were born and raised in the United Arab Emirates. They wanted to create opportunities for people like themselves: smart and entrepreneurial, but not graduates of brand-name schools. Tara is a project manager that recruits and manages the best programmers for a variety of projects for businesses, from building simple websites to creating advanced applications. To create Tara the two used publicly available code and graded programmers on a 1-10 scale. None of the programmers are a perfect 10 and Tara doesn't tell a candidate their rank, though it does set a minimum standard for recommending work. Their highest-ranking member is a nine - he's a young, US-based programmer who never went to university. Mr Ahmed, 28, is the chief technology officer behind Tara. He says the system is much more than a recruiter - it is capable of finding the best people for the job and carrying out the entire recruitment process. He says Tara will increasingly offer opportunities for people working in the freelance economy, and will create more opportunities for women and minorities who have historically had a tough time breaking in to cutting edge start-ups and staying in the tech industry. In the US, women held just 25% of professional computing occupations in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And more than 90% of those women were white. Just 5% were Asian, 3% African American and 1% Hispanic. Women in computing fields in the US have declined since a peak of 36% in 1991. A 2016 report from the National Center for Women in Information Technology says that women quit the tech industry in numbers more than double their male counterparts. \"Evidence suggests that workplace conditions, a lack of access to key creative roles, and a sense of feeling stalled in one's career are some of the most significant factors contributing to female attrition from the tech field,\" the report says. Shaherose Charania, a board member and also the co-founder of Women 2.0, which advocates for women in technology, says that companies lacking diversity are more prone to make mistakes that offend their users. \"There are so many mistakes that companies like Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter have made to exclude some of their most engaged user groups,\" Ms Charania says, referring to Facebook's \"poke\" which annoyed many women and more recently Snapchat's Bob Marley filter, which was criticised as promoting a racist digital version of blackface. While \"bro culture\" might be blamed for failing to retain the few women who do work in tech fields, the reality is there aren't many trained female computer scientists to recruit in the first place. Although women earn 57% of all undergraduate university degrees in the US, they account for just 18% of computer science degrees. Using artificial intelligence may level the playing field when it comes to hiring on merit but it won't solve the recruiting \"pipeline problem\" of having too few women applicants. Ms Charania says bias in hiring is typically not conscious, but a result of people hiring people they feel comfortable with, often from similar backgrounds and universities. If there are no women candidates or just one token female, their likelihood of getting the job is very slim. Whether or not AI changes \"bro culture\" remains to be seen. Some of those \"bros\" are likely to be very talented programmers. But until more women study computer science, gender parity in technology will remain science fiction. But Ms Masood predicts more and more women will enter the field in the future. \"I believe the next 20 to 30 years is going to be transformative for women,\" says Ms Masood. \"There's going to be people from multiple different backgrounds, races, perspectives coming into the field of programming. And I think that's why Tara is so important in this field in particular.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5288, "answer_start": 3901, "text": "While \"bro culture\" might be blamed for failing to retain the few women who do work in tech fields, the reality is there aren't many trained female computer scientists to recruit in the first place. Although women earn 57% of all undergraduate university degrees in the US, they account for just 18% of computer science degrees. Using artificial intelligence may level the playing field when it comes to hiring on merit but it won't solve the recruiting \"pipeline problem\" of having too few women applicants. Ms Charania says bias in hiring is typically not conscious, but a result of people hiring people they feel comfortable with, often from similar backgrounds and universities. If there are no women candidates or just one token female, their likelihood of getting the job is very slim. Whether or not AI changes \"bro culture\" remains to be seen. Some of those \"bros\" are likely to be very talented programmers. But until more women study computer science, gender parity in technology will remain science fiction. But Ms Masood predicts more and more women will enter the field in the future. \"I believe the next 20 to 30 years is going to be transformative for women,\" says Ms Masood. \"There's going to be people from multiple different backgrounds, races, perspectives coming into the field of programming. And I think that's why Tara is so important in this field in particular.\"" } ], "id": "814_0", "question": "Lack of female candidates?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law has said he will not use his newly-won seat on the Legislative Council (LegCo) to push for independence from China. \"I'm not advocating independence, I'm advocating Hong Kong people should enjoy [their] rights of self-determination,\" he told the BBC. China has warned that anyone advocating independence could be punished. The stern message came after several young activists won seats on LegCo. The Chinese government underlined its \"resolute opposition\" to any independence activities on the council or outside it, state media reported. Many in Hong Kong are increasingly concerned about Beijing's interventions in its politics. Mr Law said he would push for a referendum to \"decide Hong Kong's sovereignty status\" in 10 or 20 years. \"The tough battle [has] just begun and we have to be prepared and fight against the communist party,\" he said. The 23-year-old student activist and former Occupy protest leader is the most high-profile of the pro-democracy names to win a seat. He co-founded the Demosisto Party with well-known activist Joshua Wong and will now become the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong. Despite his youth, Mr Law says he proved during the election campaign that he is capable of being a legislator. \"A lot of people are believing in me and my maturity,\" he said. Convicted for his role in civil disobedience during the \"Umbrella Protests\", the soft-spoken activist has said the former British colony must be allowed a referendum on its future. He has said he does not want Hong Kong to become \"just another Chinese city\". Read more: RWho are the new faces in Hong Kong politics? Thirty pro-democracy candidates were elected to the 70-seat LegCo on Sunday, up from 27 previously, meaning they retain the ability to veto major constitutional changes. At least six young candidates who support self-determination or some level of greater independence for Hong Kong won seats, including Mr Law. Several candidates were banned from running in the elections for failing to prove they no longer backed Hong Kong's independence. In a statement, China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office noted candidates had still been publicly advocating independence during the election campaign. \"We firmly support the Hong Kong SAR [special administrative region] government to mete out penalties according to law,\" the Chinese state news agency Xinhua quoted it as saying. Tuesday's local edition of the state-owned China Daily newspaper said the election result could lead to \"separatist ideas\" being floated in the LegCo, AFP news agency reports. While Hong Kong is a Chinese SAR, it is run under the principle of \"one country, two systems\". This arrangement gives the former British colony a high degree of autonomy and allows it to preserve its economic and social systems until 2047. Sunday's election was the first in the territory since street demonstrations in 2014, when central areas of Hong Kong were paralysed for weeks by mostly young protesters calling for more autonomy from China.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1650, "answer_start": 899, "text": "The 23-year-old student activist and former Occupy protest leader is the most high-profile of the pro-democracy names to win a seat. He co-founded the Demosisto Party with well-known activist Joshua Wong and will now become the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong. Despite his youth, Mr Law says he proved during the election campaign that he is capable of being a legislator. \"A lot of people are believing in me and my maturity,\" he said. Convicted for his role in civil disobedience during the \"Umbrella Protests\", the soft-spoken activist has said the former British colony must be allowed a referendum on its future. He has said he does not want Hong Kong to become \"just another Chinese city\". Read more: RWho are the new faces in Hong Kong politics?" } ], "id": "815_0", "question": "Who is Nathan Law?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russian President Vladimir Putin has a bubble of spoofed GPS signals projected around him when he visits sensitive locations, a study suggests. It involves the state using strong radio signals to drown out reliable navigation data, says non-profit C4ADS. The report by the think tank documents almost 10,000 separate GPS spoofing incidents conducted by Russia. Most incidents affected ships, said C4ADS, but spoofing was also seen around airports and other locations. C4ADS, or the Centre for Advanced Defence, is a research organisation that uses sophisticated data analysis techniques to investigate global security and conflict issues. Its report drew on more than 12 months of work analysing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning data taken from several sources. These included: - automatic route logging systems on ships - low-earth satellite signals - route histories taken from users of the Strava exercise app - public reports of vessels, aircraft and vehicles going off course The analysis showed Russia was \"pioneering\" the use of GPS spoofing techniques to \"protect and promote its strategic interests\", the report said. Generally, said the research group, the spoofing was being done to deflect commercial drones from entering sensitive airspace. The spoofing was concentrated around 10 key locations including the Crimea, Syria, as well as ports and airports in Russia. It involves flooding an area with radio signals that mimic those sent by global GPS satellites. These ground-based signals are much stronger than those sent from satellites so the real information is crowded out. Around 1,311 ships passing through Russian waters had to correct their courses because GPS signals were being spoofed and were unreliable, said the report. Ships generally had several sources of navigation information, it added, so could get back on their correct path once they noticed they were headed off course. The report also revealed that the spoofing was regularly used when senior government figures were out and about. C4ADS said there was a \"a close correlation between movements of the Russian head of state and GNSS spoofing events\". One of the best known situations when navigational data was seen to go haywire was when Mr Putin visited the Kerch Strait Bridge in Crimea in 2018, said the report. The study concluded that spoofing was only likely to become more widespread as the equipment needed to generate the fake GPS signals was now so cheap. \"Whether for profit, protection, or disruption, illicit actors, writ large, stand to gain from the proliferation of these capabilities,\" it said. John Dunn, writing on the blog of security company Sophos, said the developments logged by C4ADS were \"alarming\". He added: \"The good news is that it's not that hard to detect spoofing with the right technology, nor work out who might be doing it.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1928, "answer_start": 1400, "text": "It involves flooding an area with radio signals that mimic those sent by global GPS satellites. These ground-based signals are much stronger than those sent from satellites so the real information is crowded out. Around 1,311 ships passing through Russian waters had to correct their courses because GPS signals were being spoofed and were unreliable, said the report. Ships generally had several sources of navigation information, it added, so could get back on their correct path once they noticed they were headed off course." } ], "id": "816_0", "question": "How does the spoofing work?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The leader of one of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy groups has been taken to hospital after being attacked. Photographs on social media showed Jimmy Sham of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) lying in the street, covered in blood. From hospital, the activist said he \"remained committed to the ideal of peaceful non-violence\". Mass protests in support of greater democracy in the territory, which began in June, show no sign of abating. The attack on Mr Sham came hours after the territory's leader suspended her annual address after being heckled in parliament. The CHRF said he was set upon by a group of up to five hammer-wielding men in the Mong Kok district of the Kowloon peninsula, and left with head injuries. It added that he was conscious as he was taken to hospital, and was in a stable condition. It was the second time Mr Sham had been attacked since the protests began. The CHRF linked the attack to government supporters, who are suspected of assaulting other pro-democracy activists in recent months. \"It is not hard to link this incident to a spreading political terror in order to threaten and inhibit the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights,\" it said in a statement. Jimmy Sham is a long-time political activist in Hong Kong, mostly known for campaigning for LGBT rights. In the anti-government protests he has been one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front, one of the non-violent protest groups behind several of the huge marches since June. The group said it was applying for a police permit to hold a new march on Sunday. Its recent requests have been rejected, while more hardcore activists have held protests in defiance of bans and clashed with police. While still in hospital, Mr Sham released a statement on Facebook, saying the attack \"only enables me to connect even more\" with fellow protesters. He also thanked the police for swiftly arriving to help him and urged them to find who was behind the assault. Amnesty International urged the authorities to launch an investigation into the attack on Mr Sham. \"Jimmy Sham was left bleeding on the street and has been hospitalised with head injuries. \"Even in the context of increasing attacks on activists, this incident is shocking in its brutality,\" said the head of the rights group's East Asia regional office, Joshua Rosenzwei. Opposition lawmakers disrupted the Legislative Council (Legco) session as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam tried to make her annual address. After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. It was then suspended - and a pre-recorded speech by Ms Lam was made available on the Legco website instead. It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber. It meant a controversial extradition bill - the trigger for the months of protests - could not be withdrawn formally. During a news conference after the video address, Ms Lam rejected claims that her speech had ignored the demands of the protest movement. But she said it was not the time to consider voting reform, while insisting Hong Kong did have freedom of speech and freedom of the press without Chinese interference. Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights. The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued. Protesters are now calling for five key demands: - Don't characterise the protests as \"riots\" - Amnesty for arrested activists - An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality - Implementation of complete universal suffrage - Withdrawal of the extradition bill Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs. - The first protest took place in June - In July, protesters stormed Legco, spraying graffiti and defacing symbols - In August, one protester was injured in the eye, leading to activists wearing eye patches to show solidarity - Hundreds of flights from Hong Kong were cancelled that month after airport protests - In September, Ms Lam announced she would withdraw the extradition bill but most protesters said it was \"too little, too late\" - On 1 October, China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule and Hong Kong saw another day of violent clashes in which an 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet and protesters fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles - On 4 October the government banned face masks, invoking powers dating back to colonial rule - Last Sunday, peaceful rallies again descended into clashes with railway stations and shops deemed to be pro-Beijing targeted.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1201, "answer_start": 567, "text": "The CHRF said he was set upon by a group of up to five hammer-wielding men in the Mong Kok district of the Kowloon peninsula, and left with head injuries. It added that he was conscious as he was taken to hospital, and was in a stable condition. It was the second time Mr Sham had been attacked since the protests began. The CHRF linked the attack to government supporters, who are suspected of assaulting other pro-democracy activists in recent months. \"It is not hard to link this incident to a spreading political terror in order to threaten and inhibit the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights,\" it said in a statement." } ], "id": "817_0", "question": "What happened to Jimmy Sham?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2334, "answer_start": 1202, "text": "Jimmy Sham is a long-time political activist in Hong Kong, mostly known for campaigning for LGBT rights. In the anti-government protests he has been one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front, one of the non-violent protest groups behind several of the huge marches since June. The group said it was applying for a police permit to hold a new march on Sunday. Its recent requests have been rejected, while more hardcore activists have held protests in defiance of bans and clashed with police. While still in hospital, Mr Sham released a statement on Facebook, saying the attack \"only enables me to connect even more\" with fellow protesters. He also thanked the police for swiftly arriving to help him and urged them to find who was behind the assault. Amnesty International urged the authorities to launch an investigation into the attack on Mr Sham. \"Jimmy Sham was left bleeding on the street and has been hospitalised with head injuries. \"Even in the context of increasing attacks on activists, this incident is shocking in its brutality,\" said the head of the rights group's East Asia regional office, Joshua Rosenzwei." } ], "id": "817_1", "question": "Who is he?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3191, "answer_start": 2335, "text": "Opposition lawmakers disrupted the Legislative Council (Legco) session as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam tried to make her annual address. After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. It was then suspended - and a pre-recorded speech by Ms Lam was made available on the Legco website instead. It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber. It meant a controversial extradition bill - the trigger for the months of protests - could not be withdrawn formally. During a news conference after the video address, Ms Lam rejected claims that her speech had ignored the demands of the protest movement. But she said it was not the time to consider voting reform, while insisting Hong Kong did have freedom of speech and freedom of the press without Chinese interference." } ], "id": "817_2", "question": "What happened in parliament on Wednesday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4125, "answer_start": 3192, "text": "Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights. The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued. Protesters are now calling for five key demands: - Don't characterise the protests as \"riots\" - Amnesty for arrested activists - An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality - Implementation of complete universal suffrage - Withdrawal of the extradition bill Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs." } ], "id": "817_3", "question": "What are the Hong Kong protests about?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has condemned the move to impeach her as a \"coup\" and a \"farce\", denying she has committed any crimes. She was addressing the nation on TV for the first time since senators voted overnight to suspend her for budgetary violations and put her on trial. Ms Rousseff vowed to fight the \"injustice\" by all legal means. Vice-President Michel Temer has now officially taken over as interim leader and has appointed a team. Respected conservative Henrique Meirelles, who headed the central bank under leftist ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, becomes finance minister. Mr Temer will serve while Ms Rousseff's trial takes place. It may last up to 180 days, which would mean Ms Rousseff would be suspended during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which start on 5 August. Senators had voted to suspend her by 55 votes to 22 after an all-night session that lasted more than 20 hours. Ms Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014. In her TV speech, flanked by ministers at the presidential palace, Ms Rousseff said that she may have made mistakes but had committed no crimes, adding: \"I did not violate budgetary laws.\" She said: \"What is at stake is respect for the ballot box, the sovereign will of the Brazilian people and the constitution.\" It must have been a difficult moment for Brazil's first female president as she faced the massed ranks of the press. She must know, despite her protestations, that there is little chance of her emerging from a six-month impeachment trial to resume her presidency. Surrounded by friends and colleagues, she talked emotionally about \"hurt\", \"betrayal\" and her \"innocence\". She left with her head held high, walking out of the presidential palace for the last time to greet loyal supporters. Ms Rousseff always points out that 53 million people voted for her when she was re-elected and what is happening now is a betrayal of the democratic process. But what she consistently fails to appreciate is how that support has evaporated as Brazil's economy nose-dived and her government became embroiled in a corruption scandal. Michel Temer might enjoy the support of Congress but many Brazilians will look upon him as a usurper. Brazil is a divided country, as it has not been for many years. Removing a president whose fall from grace has been spectacular will not heal this division overnight. Branding the process \"fraudulent\" and saying her government was \"undergoing sabotage\", she vowed to fight the charges against her and said she was confident she would be found innocent. Ms Rousseff, 68, accused the opposition of leading the impeachment because they had vehemently opposed all the advances she and her predecessor, Lula, had made for the Brazilian poor and lower middle classes. After her speech she left the presidential palace and shook hands with supporters lining the pathway. In another speech outside she told supporters she could feel their \"love and energy\" on what she called a \"tragic\" day for the country. Michel Temer became interim president as soon as Ms Rousseff was suspended. - The 75-year-old law professor of Lebanese origin was Ms Rousseff's vice-president and was a key figure in the recent upheaval - Up until now, he's been the kingmaker, but never the king, having helped form coalitions with every president in the past two decades - He is president of Brazil's largest party, the PMDB, which abandoned the coalition in March - In recent months, his role has become even more influential; in a WhatsApp recording leaked in April, he outlined how Brazil needed a \"government to save the country\". Read more on Michel Temer here Michel Temer has nominated a 21-strong cabinet. There are no women, although more names could be added. Ms Rousseff had earlier suggested that sexism in the male-dominated Congress had played a key part in the impeachment process. Mr Meirelles, the new finance minister, built a reputation for calming nerves in the markets when heading the central bank, and helped tame inflation to create one of the country's biggest economic booms. During the overnight debate, Senator Jose Serra, who has been named the new foreign minister, said the impeachment process was \"a bitter though necessary medicine\". \"Having the Rousseff government continue would be a bigger tragedy,\" he said. Brazil is suffering from its worst recession in 10 years, unemployment reached 9% in 2015 and inflation is at a 12-year high. The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4589, "answer_start": 4517, "text": "The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November." } ], "id": "818_0", "question": "What happens next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A lunchtime talk by a little-known Hong Kong political figure has drawn global attention to China's influence on free speech in the territory. Andy Chan is the head of a fringe nationalist party calling for Hong Kong's independence from China. The Hong Kong National Party is already facing a ban over its separatist stance. When the 27-year-old politician was invited to talk at the city's Foreign Correspondent Club (FCC), it sparked stern criticism from authorities in both China and Hong Kong, who asked for the event to be axed altogether. But the FCC defended the talk and has pushed ahead with it - with global media attention now focused on what might otherwise have received little or no attention at all. Ahead of the lunchtime talk, Pro-Beijing groups rallied outside the FCC's office on Tuesday morning, calling for the organisation to \"get out of Hong Kong\". A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. But it enjoys considerably more freedoms due to the \"one country, two systems\" formula, under which Beijing agreed to give the region a great deal of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years. There are widespread concerns in the city that those freedoms are gradually being eroded and the extent of China's influence over Hong Kong is a sensitive issue. Student protests, calling for more democracy, paralysed the city for several weeks in 2014. Several of the protest leaders were convicted and even faced jail terms. Those demonstrations, however, were merely about a more democratic election process - nowhere near as contentious as the issue of independence. \"Beijing and relevant authorities have been very clear about the 'red-line' that cannot be allowed anywhere in the public sphere,\" explains Mathew Wong of Hong Kong University. \"Andy Chan's talk at the FCC is one of them and a clear example of what they don't want to see.\" China is extremely - and increasingly - sensitive about what it says are questions of national sovereignty. The two main focal points of that sensitivity are Hong Kong and the self-ruling island of Taiwan. In Taiwan's case, Beijing's position is crystal clear: China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that rightfully belongs to China. In the case of Hong Kong, the situation is more blurry. Hong Kong is part of China but its special status and the liberties granted to its citizens can be seen as indirectly undermining Beijing's tough hand on the mainland. Yet when it comes to calls for Hong Kong's independence, there is in fact very little public support for advocates like Mr Chan. \"Not many people genuinely think that Hong Kong can survive on its own in practice,\" Mr Wong says. He adds that while some people might speak up for the freedom to discuss such ideas, they would hesitate to do so in this case, as they would risk being seen as supporting separatism. China's ministry of foreign affairs had urged the FCC to cancel the event and Hong Kong's top official, Carrie Lam, criticised it as \"regrettable and inappropriate\". The city's former leader and Ms Lam's predecessor, CY Leung, was even more blunt in his condemnation of the event. In a public Facebook post, he wrote the talk had \"nothing to do with press freedom\". He addressed the FCC directly, saying that \"before long you will invite advocates for Taiwan independence to speak publicly at your club\". \"Following this logic, you most probably will not draw any line against criminals and terrorists. As I said, we ought to be gravely concerned.\" Freedom of speech and press freedom are among the key liberties that set Hong Kong apart from the mainland. So supporters of the event argue that a talk given at a press club primarily to the members of that club should not be contentious. The FCC defended its decision to invite Mr Chan, arguing that \"Hong Kong rightly prides itself on its reputation as a place where the rule of law applies and where there is freedom of speech\". \"We believe that in free societies such as Hong Kong it is vitally important to allow people to speak and debate freely, even if one does not agree with their particular views.\" As for Andy Chan, the attempts to ban him from speaking didn't come as a surprise, and instead bolstered his belief that \"China is treating Hong Kong as a colony\". \"It proves our point that it is China who is destroying Hong Kong's rights,\" he told the BBC. \"The Hong Kong authorities acted out of obedience, the Beijing authorities out of hubris.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1903, "answer_start": 872, "text": "A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. But it enjoys considerably more freedoms due to the \"one country, two systems\" formula, under which Beijing agreed to give the region a great deal of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years. There are widespread concerns in the city that those freedoms are gradually being eroded and the extent of China's influence over Hong Kong is a sensitive issue. Student protests, calling for more democracy, paralysed the city for several weeks in 2014. Several of the protest leaders were convicted and even faced jail terms. Those demonstrations, however, were merely about a more democratic election process - nowhere near as contentious as the issue of independence. \"Beijing and relevant authorities have been very clear about the 'red-line' that cannot be allowed anywhere in the public sphere,\" explains Mathew Wong of Hong Kong University. \"Andy Chan's talk at the FCC is one of them and a clear example of what they don't want to see.\"" } ], "id": "819_0", "question": "Why does Hong Kong care?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2876, "answer_start": 1904, "text": "China is extremely - and increasingly - sensitive about what it says are questions of national sovereignty. The two main focal points of that sensitivity are Hong Kong and the self-ruling island of Taiwan. In Taiwan's case, Beijing's position is crystal clear: China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that rightfully belongs to China. In the case of Hong Kong, the situation is more blurry. Hong Kong is part of China but its special status and the liberties granted to its citizens can be seen as indirectly undermining Beijing's tough hand on the mainland. Yet when it comes to calls for Hong Kong's independence, there is in fact very little public support for advocates like Mr Chan. \"Not many people genuinely think that Hong Kong can survive on its own in practice,\" Mr Wong says. He adds that while some people might speak up for the freedom to discuss such ideas, they would hesitate to do so in this case, as they would risk being seen as supporting separatism." } ], "id": "819_1", "question": "Why is China so touchy about this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3525, "answer_start": 2877, "text": "China's ministry of foreign affairs had urged the FCC to cancel the event and Hong Kong's top official, Carrie Lam, criticised it as \"regrettable and inappropriate\". The city's former leader and Ms Lam's predecessor, CY Leung, was even more blunt in his condemnation of the event. In a public Facebook post, he wrote the talk had \"nothing to do with press freedom\". He addressed the FCC directly, saying that \"before long you will invite advocates for Taiwan independence to speak publicly at your club\". \"Following this logic, you most probably will not draw any line against criminals and terrorists. As I said, we ought to be gravely concerned.\"" } ], "id": "819_2", "question": "So what have the authorities actually done?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4485, "answer_start": 3526, "text": "Freedom of speech and press freedom are among the key liberties that set Hong Kong apart from the mainland. So supporters of the event argue that a talk given at a press club primarily to the members of that club should not be contentious. The FCC defended its decision to invite Mr Chan, arguing that \"Hong Kong rightly prides itself on its reputation as a place where the rule of law applies and where there is freedom of speech\". \"We believe that in free societies such as Hong Kong it is vitally important to allow people to speak and debate freely, even if one does not agree with their particular views.\" As for Andy Chan, the attempts to ban him from speaking didn't come as a surprise, and instead bolstered his belief that \"China is treating Hong Kong as a colony\". \"It proves our point that it is China who is destroying Hong Kong's rights,\" he told the BBC. \"The Hong Kong authorities acted out of obedience, the Beijing authorities out of hubris.\"" } ], "id": "819_3", "question": "What do the FCC and Mr Chan say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Ukraine's human rights ombudswoman has said she was not allowed to visit Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov, jailed in Russia on terror charges. Prison officials said this was because \"Sentsov is a Russian citizen\", Lyudmyla Denisova told the BBC. Sentsov has been on hunger strike for 33 days to push for the release of what he says are 64 political prisoners in Russia - a claim denied by the Kremlin. In 2015, he was jailed for 20 years for plotting terrorist acts in Crimea. During the trial he denied the charges, saying that \"a court of occupiers cannot be just\". Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in 2014, triggering condemnation from many countries. The annexation and Russia's support of rebels in eastern Ukraine led to a series of sanctions imposed by Western nations against Moscow. Ms Denisova said she had flown to Russia's northern town of Salekhard and tried to visit the prison where Sentsov is being held. \"We were told categorically that we wouldn't be allowed to see Oleg Sentsov,\" she told the BBC. \"I asked why and he [the head of regional prisons department] said 'because Sentsov is a Russian citizen so I took this decision.' 'We are very concerned about his health as we have no confirmed information that he is OK, and we can't trust the information provided by the Russian side,\" Ms Denisova added. She said the idea of her visiting Ukrainian prisoners in Russia had been agreed following a phone call between Ukrainian President Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week. Meanwhile, Russia's human rights ombudswoman was expected to travel to Ukraine to visit Kyrylo Vyshynsky, a Ukrainian-Russian journalist accused of treason. Mr Vyshynsky denies the charges. Ukrainians have been staging protests near Russian embassies around the world, demanding the release of Sentsov and other Ukrainian prisoners in Russia. Many activists have also been calling for the boycott of the football World Cup currently being held in Russia. Sentsov, best known for his 2011 film Gamer, was accused of setting up a terrorist group. Prosecutors say he was involved in two attempted arson attacks in the city of Simferopol, ordered by extremist Ukrainian group Right Sector. The Ukrainian government says he is being punished for being a Crimea-based pro-Ukrainian activist. The director has said he was beaten in jail for 24 hours in an attempt to force a confession. But investigators refused to open a case into his allegations of torture, suggesting that his bruises were self-inflicted and that he was keen on sado-masochism, his lawyer said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1993, "answer_start": 811, "text": "Ms Denisova said she had flown to Russia's northern town of Salekhard and tried to visit the prison where Sentsov is being held. \"We were told categorically that we wouldn't be allowed to see Oleg Sentsov,\" she told the BBC. \"I asked why and he [the head of regional prisons department] said 'because Sentsov is a Russian citizen so I took this decision.' 'We are very concerned about his health as we have no confirmed information that he is OK, and we can't trust the information provided by the Russian side,\" Ms Denisova added. She said the idea of her visiting Ukrainian prisoners in Russia had been agreed following a phone call between Ukrainian President Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week. Meanwhile, Russia's human rights ombudswoman was expected to travel to Ukraine to visit Kyrylo Vyshynsky, a Ukrainian-Russian journalist accused of treason. Mr Vyshynsky denies the charges. Ukrainians have been staging protests near Russian embassies around the world, demanding the release of Sentsov and other Ukrainian prisoners in Russia. Many activists have also been calling for the boycott of the football World Cup currently being held in Russia." } ], "id": "820_0", "question": "What did Ukraine's ombudswoman say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Laura Codruta Kovesi, Romania's former anti-corruption chief, looks set to become the EU's top prosecutor, despite opposition from her own government. Ms Kovesi gained the backing of most member states to head the new European Public Prosecutor's Office on Thursday. A European Council vote is expected to confirm her appointment within weeks. The 46-year-old became a thorn in the side of Romania's political class while leading the country's powerful Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA). Ms Kovesi took charge of the DNA in 2013 and in the years that followed, conviction rates rose sharply in one of the EU's most corrupt countries. Then, in July last year, she was sacked by the Romanian government. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ms Kovesi said the development was \"an important step\", but added: \"We will have to wait for the official decision.\" The European Council, which has previously backed Ms Kovesi's appointment to the new role, is expected to vote in her favour. A talented basketball player in her youth, Ms Kovesi became a general prosecutor at just 36. During her five years as anti-corruption chief, she put 68 high-level functionaries on trial, including 14 government ministers or ex-ministers and 53 deputies from both houses of the Romanian parliament. By the time she was forced out of the job by the governing Social Democrats (PSD), 37 of those politicians had already been convicted, and most of the other cases were ongoing. The PSD consider her their enemy, even though public officials from all parties were prosecuted. Eventually, after a long battle, the government forced the president to fire her. Ms Kovesi stood accused of abusing her office and over-use of wire-tapping facilities from the secret services; her district prosecutors were accused of pressuring witnesses. A fraud inquiry was launched against her, which she dismissed as part of a smear campaign. Ms Kovesi's ascent to head the EU's new prosecutors' office has been meteoric, but not without controversy. Loved by European liberals, she is hated by some of Europe's most authoritarian governments, including Hungary's nationalist ruling Fidesz party. Her new office will place her at the centre of disputes about the future reach of the EU. \"I will not answer to the critics. I will answer to the citizens,\" she said in a 2017 BBC interview. By Nick Thorpe, BBC News Eastern Europe correspondent So far, 22 out of the EU's 28 states have agreed to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Hungary is among those that reject it as an infringement of their national sovereignty. Its main purpose is to combat complex fraud cases. How complex? Imagine a truck loaded with sunflower oil rumbling over a sturdy steel river bridge from one EU country to another. Both are members of Schengen, the customs-free European Union trade zone, and the old border control buildings have broken windows, empty except for cobwebs. There are no border police or customs officers in sight. The truck parks in a lay-by. A company accountant fills out VAT refund forms in country A, because the oil has been \"exported\". VAT ought to be paid in country B, by those who sell it. But later that day, the driver calmly drives his truck back without unloading it. The oil finds its way on to supermarket shelves back in country A, tax-free. It's part of everyday VAT fraud, which costs EU countries an estimated EUR50bn (PS43bn; $56bn) a year. A US diplomat based in Hungary found discrepancies between imports and exports totalling $3.37bn in 2015 alone. Investigating this is complex and requires mountains of translated documents and time-consuming work for police, customs and judiciary. National customs offices are also sometimes \"discouraged\" by those in power. The EU's anti-fraud office, Olaf, has a staff of only 100 and over half its requests for investigation are rejected by national prosecutors. The new prosecutor's office will not only target suspect VAT transactions, but also the equally complex issue of public procurement tenders for EU money - to identify contracts going to business figures close to political parties. And Ms Kovesi, who has already taken on the powerful in her home country, may be leading the charge very soon.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4234, "answer_start": 2345, "text": "By Nick Thorpe, BBC News Eastern Europe correspondent So far, 22 out of the EU's 28 states have agreed to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Hungary is among those that reject it as an infringement of their national sovereignty. Its main purpose is to combat complex fraud cases. How complex? Imagine a truck loaded with sunflower oil rumbling over a sturdy steel river bridge from one EU country to another. Both are members of Schengen, the customs-free European Union trade zone, and the old border control buildings have broken windows, empty except for cobwebs. There are no border police or customs officers in sight. The truck parks in a lay-by. A company accountant fills out VAT refund forms in country A, because the oil has been \"exported\". VAT ought to be paid in country B, by those who sell it. But later that day, the driver calmly drives his truck back without unloading it. The oil finds its way on to supermarket shelves back in country A, tax-free. It's part of everyday VAT fraud, which costs EU countries an estimated EUR50bn (PS43bn; $56bn) a year. A US diplomat based in Hungary found discrepancies between imports and exports totalling $3.37bn in 2015 alone. Investigating this is complex and requires mountains of translated documents and time-consuming work for police, customs and judiciary. National customs offices are also sometimes \"discouraged\" by those in power. The EU's anti-fraud office, Olaf, has a staff of only 100 and over half its requests for investigation are rejected by national prosecutors. The new prosecutor's office will not only target suspect VAT transactions, but also the equally complex issue of public procurement tenders for EU money - to identify contracts going to business figures close to political parties. And Ms Kovesi, who has already taken on the powerful in her home country, may be leading the charge very soon." } ], "id": "821_0", "question": "Why does Europe need a chief prosecutor?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The family of a woman who died in a speedboat crash on the River Thames have been speaking about their anger that her killer is still on the run. In July, Jack Shepherd was jailed for six years for the manslaughter of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown in 2015. However, the trial was held in his absence and he remains at large. Ms Brown's father Graham Brown has told The Telegraph he suspects that police \"haven't got a clue\" where his daughter's killer is. \"They've posted him missing on Interpol and that's about it,\" he said. On Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said the case raised \"significant public concerns\" and called on Shepherd to hand himself in. Ms Brown's family have also spoken about their anguish that Shepherd has been given permission to appeal against the conviction, in spite of his disappearance. Her sister Katie told the BBC the family were \"pretty shocked that it's been allowed to happen\". \"He's still on the run, he hasn't served a day of his sentence and he's been allowed to still be in communication with his lawyers. \"He's been able to appeal using legal aid as well,\" she said. Shepherd and Ms Brown, who was from Clacton, Essex, met through the dating website OkCupid. On their first date in December 2015, they dined in London's Shard skyscraper before the web designer took the 24-year-old out on his speedboat. In mobile phone footage filmed during the date, Ms Brown could be heard shouting that they were going \"so fast\" as Shepherd drove at more than double the 12-knot speed limit. The speeding boat, which Shepherd told police he had bought \"to pull women\", then hit a submerged log and tipped over, flinging them both into the water. The web designer was found clinging to the hull but Ms Brown was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive and died in hospital. In July, a jury found Shepherd guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. He told his lawyers in mid-May he would not be attending his trial at the Old Bailey but the Crown Prosecution Service only found out a week before it began. During the trial, his defence team said they did not know where he was, although his solicitor had maintained telephone contact with Shepherd. Following his conviction, police said they believed Shepherd might have fled abroad but they have said they have \"no tangible trace\" of him. The last confirmed sighting of him was in March 2018 in Devon, police said. \"There have been a number of rumours that he is being harboured abroad by friends but we have no evidence this is the case,\" Det Ch Insp Mick Norman said on Monday. The 31-year-old - who police say has a valid passport - has not been using his known bank accounts or mobile phone, although Mr Norman said he \"may well be using the accounts of friends or associates to evade arrest and extradition\". \"We would appeal to Mr Shepherd's friends and associates who may be assisting him through a misplaced sense of loyalty to do the right thing and share any information they have with the police,\" he said. Tuckers Solicitors, which is representing Shepherd, said it was \"not aware of his whereabouts\". In a statement, the law firm said it had been \"instructed to represent Mr Shepherd\" and would do so \"without prejudice and to the best of our ability\". Last month, the Court of Appeal confirmed that a judge had given him permission to appeal against the conviction, although permission to appeal against his six-year jail sentence was refused. Tuckers said the appeal would be \"based on what the defence believe were legal errors made during the trial\" and Shepherd's continued absence \"has no effect on the principle of an appeal, which is purely based on matters of law\". \"Previous case law confirms that an absent defendant still has the right to appeal against legal errors at a trial that took place in his absence,\" the firm said. He was eligible for legal aid for his criminal trial and this is automatically extended to advice about his appeal - regardless of whether he is in custody or on the run. Tuckers have said the fee for representing the 31-year-old amounts to \"less than PS30,000\". The prime minister's official spokesman said Theresa May's \"strongest sympathies are with the family of Charlotte Brown, and Jack Shepherd should give himself up right away to face justice\". He said she was aware of the \"significant public concerns around this case\" which was \"why the Ministry of Justice is looking into the issues that it raises\". Home Secretary Sajid Javid recently sent a letter to the Brown family in which he told them \"no-one is above the law\", and that he had \"instructed Home Office officials to seek assurances from police\". A meeting has also been arranged between Mr Javid and Ms Brown's family on 22 January to discuss the case. James Brokenshire, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup where some of the family live, has also pledged his support for the Browns. Mr Brokenshire said he wanted to \"ensure that all steps and measures are being taken... to bring Shepherd back to the UK so that he faces the justice he rightly deserves\". If Shepherd is apprehended in the UK, he will be taken into custody to start serving his six-year sentence. Nevertheless, the appeal against his conviction will still go ahead. A date for the hearing has yet to be set.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1898, "answer_start": 1120, "text": "Shepherd and Ms Brown, who was from Clacton, Essex, met through the dating website OkCupid. On their first date in December 2015, they dined in London's Shard skyscraper before the web designer took the 24-year-old out on his speedboat. In mobile phone footage filmed during the date, Ms Brown could be heard shouting that they were going \"so fast\" as Shepherd drove at more than double the 12-knot speed limit. The speeding boat, which Shepherd told police he had bought \"to pull women\", then hit a submerged log and tipped over, flinging them both into the water. The web designer was found clinging to the hull but Ms Brown was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive and died in hospital. In July, a jury found Shepherd guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence." } ], "id": "822_0", "question": "What did Shepherd do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3019, "answer_start": 1899, "text": "He told his lawyers in mid-May he would not be attending his trial at the Old Bailey but the Crown Prosecution Service only found out a week before it began. During the trial, his defence team said they did not know where he was, although his solicitor had maintained telephone contact with Shepherd. Following his conviction, police said they believed Shepherd might have fled abroad but they have said they have \"no tangible trace\" of him. The last confirmed sighting of him was in March 2018 in Devon, police said. \"There have been a number of rumours that he is being harboured abroad by friends but we have no evidence this is the case,\" Det Ch Insp Mick Norman said on Monday. The 31-year-old - who police say has a valid passport - has not been using his known bank accounts or mobile phone, although Mr Norman said he \"may well be using the accounts of friends or associates to evade arrest and extradition\". \"We would appeal to Mr Shepherd's friends and associates who may be assisting him through a misplaced sense of loyalty to do the right thing and share any information they have with the police,\" he said." } ], "id": "822_1", "question": "Where did Shepherd go?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4115, "answer_start": 3853, "text": "He was eligible for legal aid for his criminal trial and this is automatically extended to advice about his appeal - regardless of whether he is in custody or on the run. Tuckers have said the fee for representing the 31-year-old amounts to \"less than PS30,000\"." } ], "id": "822_2", "question": "Why is Shepherd entitled to legal aid?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5070, "answer_start": 4116, "text": "The prime minister's official spokesman said Theresa May's \"strongest sympathies are with the family of Charlotte Brown, and Jack Shepherd should give himself up right away to face justice\". He said she was aware of the \"significant public concerns around this case\" which was \"why the Ministry of Justice is looking into the issues that it raises\". Home Secretary Sajid Javid recently sent a letter to the Brown family in which he told them \"no-one is above the law\", and that he had \"instructed Home Office officials to seek assurances from police\". A meeting has also been arranged between Mr Javid and Ms Brown's family on 22 January to discuss the case. James Brokenshire, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup where some of the family live, has also pledged his support for the Browns. Mr Brokenshire said he wanted to \"ensure that all steps and measures are being taken... to bring Shepherd back to the UK so that he faces the justice he rightly deserves\"." } ], "id": "822_3", "question": "What does the government say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5289, "answer_start": 5071, "text": "If Shepherd is apprehended in the UK, he will be taken into custody to start serving his six-year sentence. Nevertheless, the appeal against his conviction will still go ahead. A date for the hearing has yet to be set." } ], "id": "822_4", "question": "What happens next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has been buried hours after he collapsed in court and died on Monday. His lawyer told the AFP news agency the former leader had been buried in eastern Cairo early on Tuesday morning with his family present. Morsi, who was 67, had been in custody since his removal from office in 2013. Human rights groups, who had criticised the conditions in which he was kept, have called for an impartial investigation into his death. His family and activists had repeatedly raised concerns about his health and the amount of time he was kept in solitary confinement, away from visits by lawyers and family. His son, Abdullah Mohamed Morsi, told Reuters on Monday that Egyptian authorities had denied a family request for a public funeral in his hometown. A top figure in the now-banned Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi became the country's first democratically elected leader in 2012. He was ousted and detained in a military coup a year later following mass protests against his rule. Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief, has been in power since 2014. After Morsi's removal, the authorities launched a crackdown on his supporters and other dissent, leading to tens of thousands of arrests. The Muslim Brotherhood and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally of Morsi, are among those who have blamed the Egyptian leadership for Morsi's death. Morsi was appearing in Cairo on Monday on charges of espionage related to suspected contacts with the Palestinian militant Islamist group Hamas. Officials say he had asked to address the jury, and spoke for about five minutes from a soundproof glass cage where he was being held with other defendants. Minutes later, he apparently fainted during a break in proceedings. \"He was transferred to a hospital where he was pronounced dead,\" a statement by Egypt's public prosecutor said. Officials said a forensic report had been ordered into his death, and insisted no new, visible injuries were found on his body. State television had earlier described the cause of death as a heart attack. Morsi was already facing decades in jail after being sentenced in three other trials. He had previously been given a death sentence, which was later overturned. Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division, tweeted that his death was \"terrible but entirely predictable\". \"Former President Morsi's death followed years of government mistreatment, prolonged solitary confinement, inadequate medical care, and deprivation of family visits and access to lawyers,\" Ms Whitston said in a later statement. The group called on the UN to start an investigation into what it described as \"ongoing gross violations of human rights in Egypt, including widespread ill-treatment in prisons\". Amnesty International has also called for an impartial inquiry. The rights group says Morsi was only allowed three family visits in almost six years of solitary confinement, and was denied access to his lawyers or a doctor. The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice party, described Morsi's death as an \"assassination\". Turkish President Erdogan blamed Egypt's \"tyrants\" for his death and described him as a martyr. The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, another ally of the late leader, expressed his \"deep sorrow\" at the death. British MP Crispin Blunt, who led a panel of politicians who warned in 2018 about the conditions of Morsi's confinement, has called for a \"reputable independent international investigation\". Born in the village of El-Adwah in 1951, Morsi studied engineering at Cairo University in the 1970s before moving to the US to complete a PhD. He was chosen as the Muslim Brotherhood's presidential candidate for the 2012 election after the movement's preferred choice was forced to pull out. During his turbulent year in office, Morsi was accused of mounting an Islamist coup and mishandling the economy. Public opposition to his government grew and millions of anti-government protesters took to the streets across Egypt to mark the first anniversary of the day he took office, on 30 June 2013. Three days later, the army suspended the constitution, announced an interim government ahead of new elections and detained Morsi, who denounced the move as a coup. Then army chief Mr Sisi was elected president in 2014 and re-elected last year in polls rights groups called \"farcical\". Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands of others detained in the subsequent crackdown.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2253, "answer_start": 1406, "text": "Morsi was appearing in Cairo on Monday on charges of espionage related to suspected contacts with the Palestinian militant Islamist group Hamas. Officials say he had asked to address the jury, and spoke for about five minutes from a soundproof glass cage where he was being held with other defendants. Minutes later, he apparently fainted during a break in proceedings. \"He was transferred to a hospital where he was pronounced dead,\" a statement by Egypt's public prosecutor said. Officials said a forensic report had been ordered into his death, and insisted no new, visible injuries were found on his body. State television had earlier described the cause of death as a heart attack. Morsi was already facing decades in jail after being sentenced in three other trials. He had previously been given a death sentence, which was later overturned." } ], "id": "823_0", "question": "What happened in court?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3582, "answer_start": 2254, "text": "Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division, tweeted that his death was \"terrible but entirely predictable\". \"Former President Morsi's death followed years of government mistreatment, prolonged solitary confinement, inadequate medical care, and deprivation of family visits and access to lawyers,\" Ms Whitston said in a later statement. The group called on the UN to start an investigation into what it described as \"ongoing gross violations of human rights in Egypt, including widespread ill-treatment in prisons\". Amnesty International has also called for an impartial inquiry. The rights group says Morsi was only allowed three family visits in almost six years of solitary confinement, and was denied access to his lawyers or a doctor. The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice party, described Morsi's death as an \"assassination\". Turkish President Erdogan blamed Egypt's \"tyrants\" for his death and described him as a martyr. The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, another ally of the late leader, expressed his \"deep sorrow\" at the death. British MP Crispin Blunt, who led a panel of politicians who warned in 2018 about the conditions of Morsi's confinement, has called for a \"reputable independent international investigation\"." } ], "id": "823_1", "question": "What has the reaction been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4569, "answer_start": 3583, "text": "Born in the village of El-Adwah in 1951, Morsi studied engineering at Cairo University in the 1970s before moving to the US to complete a PhD. He was chosen as the Muslim Brotherhood's presidential candidate for the 2012 election after the movement's preferred choice was forced to pull out. During his turbulent year in office, Morsi was accused of mounting an Islamist coup and mishandling the economy. Public opposition to his government grew and millions of anti-government protesters took to the streets across Egypt to mark the first anniversary of the day he took office, on 30 June 2013. Three days later, the army suspended the constitution, announced an interim government ahead of new elections and detained Morsi, who denounced the move as a coup. Then army chief Mr Sisi was elected president in 2014 and re-elected last year in polls rights groups called \"farcical\". Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands of others detained in the subsequent crackdown." } ], "id": "823_2", "question": "Who was Morsi?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has gone on trial again over an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud involving a government fund. Mr Najib is facing several trials over the state investment fund 1MDB - this is the most significant covering 21 counts of money-laundering and four of abuse of power. Prosecutors say he received and covered up illegal transfers of at least $550m (PS448m) between 2011 and 2014. Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing. The former prime minister first faced trial over different allegations in the 1MDB scandal in April this year. The 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund was set up in 2009, when Najib Razak was prime minister, to aid the nation's economic development. In 2015, questions were raised around its activities after it missed payments owed to banks and bondholders. Malaysian and US authorities allege that about $4.5bn was illicitly plundered from the fund and diverted into private pockets. The missing money has been linked to luxury real estate, a private jet, Van Gogh and Monet artworks - and even a Hollywood blockbuster. Opening the trial on Wednesday, prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram accused Mr Najib of being a key player in the scandal. \"His objective was to enrich himself,\" the prosecutor said, outlining how the money was allegedly funnelled to the former prime minister. Mr Najib was cleared of all wrongdoing by Malaysian authorities while he was prime minister. Nonetheless, the corruption allegations played a big part in his historic election defeat in 2018 - and the new government swiftly reopened investigations into 1MDB. Mr Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, is facing charges of money-laundering and tax evasion, to which she has pleaded not guilty.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1714, "answer_start": 565, "text": "The 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund was set up in 2009, when Najib Razak was prime minister, to aid the nation's economic development. In 2015, questions were raised around its activities after it missed payments owed to banks and bondholders. Malaysian and US authorities allege that about $4.5bn was illicitly plundered from the fund and diverted into private pockets. The missing money has been linked to luxury real estate, a private jet, Van Gogh and Monet artworks - and even a Hollywood blockbuster. Opening the trial on Wednesday, prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram accused Mr Najib of being a key player in the scandal. \"His objective was to enrich himself,\" the prosecutor said, outlining how the money was allegedly funnelled to the former prime minister. Mr Najib was cleared of all wrongdoing by Malaysian authorities while he was prime minister. Nonetheless, the corruption allegations played a big part in his historic election defeat in 2018 - and the new government swiftly reopened investigations into 1MDB. Mr Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, is facing charges of money-laundering and tax evasion, to which she has pleaded not guilty." } ], "id": "824_0", "question": "What's the background to the scandal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "What does Wang Shi, founder and chairman of China Vanke, the world's biggest home builder by revenue, make of China's overheated property market? When prospective buyers enter the 900-home development \"Seaside Home\" along an avenue of Grecian columns, their eyes are meant to be drawn to three athletes, chiselled from fake bronze. At \"Starry Olympic City\", another development nearby, the statues are of pouting art deco girls. When it comes to putting the frozen city of Yingkou, near the border with North Korea, on the style map, the developers are not short of ambition. But one thing is missing. There aren't any prospective buyers. In fact, there are no people here at all. No cars on the eight-lane roads; no one in the Olympic-themed sports centre. As dark descends, light shines only from \"The Happy Pizza Hut\", Yingkou's brush with western cuisine. Whole apartment blocks are black. \"No one wants to live on this side of the river,\" explains a resident of the nearby old town. \"It's too far from everything. There are no jobs. It's a complete waste of money.\" Among Yingkou's developers, ambition has given way to desperation. They admit privately they've only sold a fraction of their stock. None would risk talking publicly, but I get a rare opportunity to sit down with Wang Shi, founder and chairman of Vanke, the world's largest home builder by sales. \"It's a real problem,\" he concedes. \"Many cities have an oversupply of housing.\" Wang's company Vanke also has a development at Yingkou. Harbour City promises a lifestyle more sun-kissed California than bleak northeast China. \"You only live once. You need a holiday,\" teases an advert. Wang admits the project has faced difficulties, but insists sales aren't bad, though my request to look around was politely declined. To a greater or lesser extent, every Chinese city is ringed by empty developments. Some will eventually be filled but, for the likes of Yingkou, that's surely impossible. China's housing binge over the last few years has been without parallel in human history. For a while it paid off, as construction drove breakneck economic growth. But far too much was built and in the wrong places. Wang Shi seems unconcerned. \"In the west, if a city faces financial difficulties, it'll go bankrupt. But in China, cities will be subsidised by the Ministry of Finance. So some small- and medium-sized cities aren't worried about going bankrupt. They figure the central government will help them out.\" This is an extraordinary assertion from a major Chinese developer: that companies and local governments can spend, safe in the knowledge that Beijing will open its wallet if they run into difficulty. But this free spending by local governments has helped inflate the biggest debt bubble in world history - and it can't go on forever. Now Wang Shi calls on China to address its economic problems. And he wants his company, Vanke, to help build a better future. \"We have influence. That prompts the question, is this influence there to bring a product to market? Or does it mean social responsibility, helping to shape the future of the market?\" Vanke's headquarters in Shenzhen in south-east China offers a taste of Wang's vision. A vertical glass and steel skyscraper: cutting edge, radical, low carbon. He's pioneering the development of pre-fabricated and low-carbon buildings. \"My next goal is for Shenzhen to become the model of environmentally-friendly and sustainable development.\" 1951: Born in 1951 Guangxi Province, China 1977: Graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Water Supply and Drainage, Faculty of the University of Lanzhou 1984: Established the Shenzhen Modern Scientific Education Equipment Distribution Centre, the predecessor of China Vanke 1988: Became chairman and general manager of China Vanke 1999: Resigned as general manager of China Vanke but remained as chairman 2003: Reached the summit of Mount Everest, the oldest Chinese national to do so 2005: Successfully trekked to the North and South Poles 2010: Reached the summit of Mount Everest again, breaking his own record 2011-2013: Visiting scholar at Harvard It's a shrewd move, tapping into the rising frustration felt by China's urban middle class at skyrocketing pollution levels. But as problems mount across China's property market, Vanke's profits have slowed. Their borrowing costs are rising, suggesting lenders are also now more cautious. But Vanke is in rude health compared to other smaller developers. In Yingkou, Seaside Home has been left as a bare concrete shell, never completed. Locals say the developer fled, wanted by the police. Nature is reclaiming the Grecian columns and the athletes. \"Eventually we will come a point where developers, banks and local governments need to realise that a significant part of the existing inventory [of empty housing] needs to be removed,\" says Credit Suisse's China property analyst Jinsong Du. \"But obviously that will have implications for the whole financial system. The bad debt held by many Chinese banks will shoot up significantly.\" As the risk of a banking crisis grows, it's no surprise that Wang Shi is looking for new opportunities abroad. He admits he is motivated partly by the need for safer investments to balance his higher-risk Chinese ones. He's also responding to the demands of Chinese customers, eager for homes in western markets. \"We are establishing an international network: San Francisco, New York, London, Berlin, Paris. We are targeting the Chinese market as they buy overseas.\" The company has bought a stake in The Stage, a 40-floor development on the edge of the City of London. Wanda, another major Chinese developer, is building one of the tallest residential buildings in western Europe at Nine Elms in South London. But could this surge of Chinese property investment be dangerous for the UK, deepening British exposure to a future Chinese property crash? Credit Suisse's Jinsong Du says this is a valid concern, though he believes the Chinese government will stand behind its biggest developers if they run into difficulty. But for how much longer? The risk for overseas property markets is that Chinese investors might come with hidden strings attached - reaching all the way back to the ghost towns of China. This World: The Great Chinese Crash? With Robert Peston is on BBC Two on Wednesday 17 February at 22:00 GMT or watch it via the BBC iPlayer.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3463, "answer_start": 2175, "text": "Wang Shi seems unconcerned. \"In the west, if a city faces financial difficulties, it'll go bankrupt. But in China, cities will be subsidised by the Ministry of Finance. So some small- and medium-sized cities aren't worried about going bankrupt. They figure the central government will help them out.\" This is an extraordinary assertion from a major Chinese developer: that companies and local governments can spend, safe in the knowledge that Beijing will open its wallet if they run into difficulty. But this free spending by local governments has helped inflate the biggest debt bubble in world history - and it can't go on forever. Now Wang Shi calls on China to address its economic problems. And he wants his company, Vanke, to help build a better future. \"We have influence. That prompts the question, is this influence there to bring a product to market? Or does it mean social responsibility, helping to shape the future of the market?\" Vanke's headquarters in Shenzhen in south-east China offers a taste of Wang's vision. A vertical glass and steel skyscraper: cutting edge, radical, low carbon. He's pioneering the development of pre-fabricated and low-carbon buildings. \"My next goal is for Shenzhen to become the model of environmentally-friendly and sustainable development.\"" } ], "id": "825_0", "question": "Social responsibility?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Mikhail Khodorkovsky went from being Russia's richest man to its most famous prisoner in a life that has to some extent mirrored the changes in modern Russia. The former oligarch was suddenly pardoned by President Vladimir Putin and flown to Germany after spending a decade in custody on charges some believe were fabricated to block any serious political opposition to the strongman of the Kremlin. Forbes magazine put his net worth at more than $15bn (PS9.1bn) before his arrest in 2003. By comparison, today's richest Russian citizen, Alisher Usmanov, is valued at $17.6bn. In the early 1990s, other Russians watched their savings eaten by inflation and the assets of their state sold off at bargain prices to those in the know. Khodorkovsky, a former star of the Moscow Communist Youth League, was making his first millions through his own bank, Menatep. The really big money came in 1995 when he bought the Yukos oil company at the knockdown price of $350m. Khodorkovsky had been close to the centre of power since Soviet days, when he worked as an aide to the last prime minister of the USSR, Ivan Silayev. In the chaotic years of Boris Yeltsin's rule, Khodorkovsky became one of the oligarchs, a small group of fabulously rich tycoons who kept close to the Kremlin as they built their businesses. They bankrolled Yeltsin's re-election in 1996 - arguably the last presidential election in Russia where voters were offered a real choice. Meanwhile, all around them, ordinary Russians watched the continuing decline of their living standards and their country, shaken by a disastrous war against separatists in Chechnya. When Vladimir Putin won the 2000 election, he set about rebuilding a strong state that paid people's wages and pensions on time, and he restored an order of sorts in the war-torn south. But there would be no going back to communism and tycoons who kept out of the new leader's political path were tolerated, even as Yeltsin's political reforms were rolled back. Khodorkovsky is credited for his efforts to modernise Russian business practices at that time, introducing unprecedented transparency to the accounts of Yukos. Sensing a return to one-party rule, he also funded liberal opposition parties. In February 2003 he openly sparred with Mr Putin at a televised meeting, accusing government officials of taking huge bribes. That October, he was arrested at gunpoint and charged with tax evasion. Six months later, Mr Putin was re-elected president, increasing his share of the vote from 53% to 71%. Convicted of tax evasion in 2005, Khodorkovsky was sent to prison. The billionaire found himself in a Siberian prison camp where inmates could expect to earn $0.81 a day for their labour. Passionately denying the charges against him, he devoted his energies to clearing his name, his campaign backed by advocates worldwide. Even when he was tried and sentenced to a second term in 2010, this time for embezzlement and money-laundering, he persevered, releasing statements from his new prison near the Arctic Circle. In the outside world, Vladimir Putin and his allies saw their iron grip on Russia briefly loosened in 2011, when indignation at corruption boiled over into the biggest street protests since Soviet times. Mr Putin reasserted his authority and key figures in the protest movement were hounded through the courts, on charges again seen by many as politically motivated. After arriving in Germany, he said he would not return to Russia until he was confident he would be able to leave it again. Before his release, there had been rumours of new charges being drawn up to keep him in prison even longer. He stressed he had been released on humanitarian grounds, and that the issue of his guilt had not been discussed, but his conviction still stands. Khodorkovsky's fortune apparently crumbled long ago, with his business empire effectively seized by the state, but the former oligarch may have amassed moral capital in the eyes of some as a victim of injustice. However, he said in Berlin he would stay out of Russian politics and instead work as an advocate of political prisoners in Russia and other countries.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 962, "answer_start": 400, "text": "Forbes magazine put his net worth at more than $15bn (PS9.1bn) before his arrest in 2003. By comparison, today's richest Russian citizen, Alisher Usmanov, is valued at $17.6bn. In the early 1990s, other Russians watched their savings eaten by inflation and the assets of their state sold off at bargain prices to those in the know. Khodorkovsky, a former star of the Moscow Communist Youth League, was making his first millions through his own bank, Menatep. The really big money came in 1995 when he bought the Yukos oil company at the knockdown price of $350m." } ], "id": "826_0", "question": "How rich was richest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1624, "answer_start": 963, "text": "Khodorkovsky had been close to the centre of power since Soviet days, when he worked as an aide to the last prime minister of the USSR, Ivan Silayev. In the chaotic years of Boris Yeltsin's rule, Khodorkovsky became one of the oligarchs, a small group of fabulously rich tycoons who kept close to the Kremlin as they built their businesses. They bankrolled Yeltsin's re-election in 1996 - arguably the last presidential election in Russia where voters were offered a real choice. Meanwhile, all around them, ordinary Russians watched the continuing decline of their living standards and their country, shaken by a disastrous war against separatists in Chechnya." } ], "id": "826_1", "question": "When was the Kremlin good for business?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2526, "answer_start": 1625, "text": "When Vladimir Putin won the 2000 election, he set about rebuilding a strong state that paid people's wages and pensions on time, and he restored an order of sorts in the war-torn south. But there would be no going back to communism and tycoons who kept out of the new leader's political path were tolerated, even as Yeltsin's political reforms were rolled back. Khodorkovsky is credited for his efforts to modernise Russian business practices at that time, introducing unprecedented transparency to the accounts of Yukos. Sensing a return to one-party rule, he also funded liberal opposition parties. In February 2003 he openly sparred with Mr Putin at a televised meeting, accusing government officials of taking huge bribes. That October, he was arrested at gunpoint and charged with tax evasion. Six months later, Mr Putin was re-elected president, increasing his share of the vote from 53% to 71%." } ], "id": "826_2", "question": "Where did it all go wrong?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3410, "answer_start": 2527, "text": "Convicted of tax evasion in 2005, Khodorkovsky was sent to prison. The billionaire found himself in a Siberian prison camp where inmates could expect to earn $0.81 a day for their labour. Passionately denying the charges against him, he devoted his energies to clearing his name, his campaign backed by advocates worldwide. Even when he was tried and sentenced to a second term in 2010, this time for embezzlement and money-laundering, he persevered, releasing statements from his new prison near the Arctic Circle. In the outside world, Vladimir Putin and his allies saw their iron grip on Russia briefly loosened in 2011, when indignation at corruption boiled over into the biggest street protests since Soviet times. Mr Putin reasserted his authority and key figures in the protest movement were hounded through the courts, on charges again seen by many as politically motivated." } ], "id": "826_3", "question": "What has changed in a decade?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4152, "answer_start": 3411, "text": "After arriving in Germany, he said he would not return to Russia until he was confident he would be able to leave it again. Before his release, there had been rumours of new charges being drawn up to keep him in prison even longer. He stressed he had been released on humanitarian grounds, and that the issue of his guilt had not been discussed, but his conviction still stands. Khodorkovsky's fortune apparently crumbled long ago, with his business empire effectively seized by the state, but the former oligarch may have amassed moral capital in the eyes of some as a victim of injustice. However, he said in Berlin he would stay out of Russian politics and instead work as an advocate of political prisoners in Russia and other countries." } ], "id": "826_4", "question": "What now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Poland has threatened to derail Thursday's EU summit as it attempts to block the re-election of Donald Tusk as president of the European Council. Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said nothing should be decided without Poland's agreement. The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) implacably opposes Mr Tusk, a former prime minister from a rival party. Correspondents say such hostility among compatriots is highly unusual in EU politics. But Mr Tusk is still expected to get enough support to keep his post. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed a new 30-month term for Mr Tusk, saying it would be a \"sign of stability\". As European Council president, he would play a major role in the UK's Brexit negotiations. Thursday's meeting of EU leaders in Brussels is the last that UK Prime Minister Theresa May will attend before formally launching the two-year Brexit process later this month. Although Brexit itself is not on the agenda, leaders will meet again on Friday - minus Mrs May - to discuss EU unity. Poland's government is desperately trying to prevent Mr Tusk from being re-elected to a second term as president of the European Council. Instead it has proposed its own candidate, a little-known Polish MEP called Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. Arriving for the summit, Ms Szydlo said Poland's voice had to be heard. \"Nothing should be decided without our consent,\" she said. \"Today in this building it would be good to recall this main principle of community building.\" In an interview earlier with Polish television, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said his country could even veto the summit's conclusions to scupper Mr Tusk's re-election. But Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of Malta, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, suggested Mr Tusk's re-election could not be blocked. \"One country, or a number of countries might be against that decision, but one country cannot block a decision,\" he said. \"There are very clear rules of engagement and rules of procedure which we will follow.\" Ms Szydlo has also written a letter to EU leaders saying Mr Tusk has \"violated multiple times his European mandate\" by getting involved in Polish political disputes and supporting the opposition to the government. The EU has angered Poland's nationalist government by criticising changes to the country's top court, new restrictions on journalists and its opposition to resettling refugees by quota. Mr Tusk was prime minister from 2007-2014. He led the centre-right Civic Platform when the PiS was in opposition. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski holds Mr Tusk \"politically\" responsible for the 2010 plane crash in Russia which killed his twin Lech Kaczynski, the then Poland's president, and all other 95 people on board. The plane crashed in dense fog. Official investigations ruled pilot error was the principal cause. In 2012, Jaroslaw Kaczynski told Mr Tusk in parliament: \"In the political sense you bear 100% responsibility for the catastrophe in Smolensk.\" Many Poles believe Mr Tusk's government did not do enough to explain the causes of the crash. Critics say Mr Tusk should not have allowed the Russians to conduct the first crash investigation. Under the Chicago Convention, which covers international air travel, the state on whose territory a crash occurs bears responsibility for conducting the investigation. Jaroslaw Kaczynski also accused Mr Tusk of favouring \"solutions that are extremely harmful to Poland\". The European Council brings together the heads of state and government of the 28 EU member states. Jointly they set the EU's strategic direction in key areas, such as reform of the eurozone, the Greek debt crisis, the migrant challenge and relations with Russia. The Council president aims to achieve consensus - deploying all his diplomatic skills - on these tricky issues, where national tensions often dictate how leaders behave. Mr Tusk took charge in late 2014 and his term ends on 31 May. If his fellow leaders back him on Thursday, he will stay in office until 30 November 2019. That period coincides with the expected two-year Brexit talks on UK withdrawal from the EU. Malta, currently chairing EU business, is likely to seek approval of Mr Tusk by consensus. Poland's hostility may push it to a vote - but then Mr Tusk is still likely to win by a qualified majority.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2399, "answer_start": 1003, "text": "Poland's government is desperately trying to prevent Mr Tusk from being re-elected to a second term as president of the European Council. Instead it has proposed its own candidate, a little-known Polish MEP called Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. Arriving for the summit, Ms Szydlo said Poland's voice had to be heard. \"Nothing should be decided without our consent,\" she said. \"Today in this building it would be good to recall this main principle of community building.\" In an interview earlier with Polish television, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said his country could even veto the summit's conclusions to scupper Mr Tusk's re-election. But Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of Malta, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, suggested Mr Tusk's re-election could not be blocked. \"One country, or a number of countries might be against that decision, but one country cannot block a decision,\" he said. \"There are very clear rules of engagement and rules of procedure which we will follow.\" Ms Szydlo has also written a letter to EU leaders saying Mr Tusk has \"violated multiple times his European mandate\" by getting involved in Polish political disputes and supporting the opposition to the government. The EU has angered Poland's nationalist government by criticising changes to the country's top court, new restrictions on journalists and its opposition to resettling refugees by quota." } ], "id": "827_0", "question": "What is Poland doing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3425, "answer_start": 2400, "text": "Mr Tusk was prime minister from 2007-2014. He led the centre-right Civic Platform when the PiS was in opposition. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski holds Mr Tusk \"politically\" responsible for the 2010 plane crash in Russia which killed his twin Lech Kaczynski, the then Poland's president, and all other 95 people on board. The plane crashed in dense fog. Official investigations ruled pilot error was the principal cause. In 2012, Jaroslaw Kaczynski told Mr Tusk in parliament: \"In the political sense you bear 100% responsibility for the catastrophe in Smolensk.\" Many Poles believe Mr Tusk's government did not do enough to explain the causes of the crash. Critics say Mr Tusk should not have allowed the Russians to conduct the first crash investigation. Under the Chicago Convention, which covers international air travel, the state on whose territory a crash occurs bears responsibility for conducting the investigation. Jaroslaw Kaczynski also accused Mr Tusk of favouring \"solutions that are extremely harmful to Poland\"." } ], "id": "827_1", "question": "Why is the Polish government so hostile to Mr Tusk?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4302, "answer_start": 3426, "text": "The European Council brings together the heads of state and government of the 28 EU member states. Jointly they set the EU's strategic direction in key areas, such as reform of the eurozone, the Greek debt crisis, the migrant challenge and relations with Russia. The Council president aims to achieve consensus - deploying all his diplomatic skills - on these tricky issues, where national tensions often dictate how leaders behave. Mr Tusk took charge in late 2014 and his term ends on 31 May. If his fellow leaders back him on Thursday, he will stay in office until 30 November 2019. That period coincides with the expected two-year Brexit talks on UK withdrawal from the EU. Malta, currently chairing EU business, is likely to seek approval of Mr Tusk by consensus. Poland's hostility may push it to a vote - but then Mr Tusk is still likely to win by a qualified majority." } ], "id": "827_2", "question": "What does the European Council president do?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A big search and rescue operation is continuing in Japan for five missing US Marines after two aircraft with seven crew collided and crashed into the sea. One Marine was rescued and was \"in fair condition\", while another one \"has been declared deceased\", Marines officials said in a statement. The planes involved were a KC-130 and an F/A-18 based at Iwakuni near Hiroshima, south-western Japan. US media say they crashed during a mid-air refuelling exercise. The Marine Corps has not officially confirmed this, describing the incident as a \"mishap\". Japanese Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Japanese aircraft and three vessels were taking part in the rescue operation. The US 7th Fleet is supporting the operation, with navy aircraft being deployed. A Marines statement said: \"We are thankful for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's efforts as they immediately responded in the search and rescue operation.\" The Marines Corps tweeted that the incident occurred at about 02:00 local time on Thursday (17:00 GMT Wednesday). The first Marine was rescued about four hours later, Japanese officials said, while the second was found 10 hours after the collision. They said one of them was from the fighter jet. There were five personnel on the C-130 and two on the F-18. Japan said the search operation would continue overnight, Japan's NHK World reports. It quoted the head of Japan's Self-Defence Forces, Katsutoshi Kawano, as saying that search teams had spotted debris floating in the sea. A Facebook posting by the III Marine Expeditionary Force said the incident took place 200 miles (320km) off the coast. The US planes had taken off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and \"were conducting regularly scheduled training when the mishap occurred\". The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says that air-to-air refuelling is a difficult and potentially dangerous flight operation, especially when done at night. He says it is not clear what the weather conditions were like but overnight there was widespread cloud and rain across the Japanese archipelago. The KC-130 is an extended-range tanker version of the C-130 and is used for mid-air refuelling. The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a fighter and attack aircraft and can carry a wide range of missiles and bombs. The US has more than 50,000 troops stationed in Japan, more than 18,000 of them in the US Marine Corps. The US has had problems with reliability of its aircraft in Japan. In November an F/A-18 Hornet crashed into the sea south of Okinawa. The two pilots ejected and were rescued. Last December, part of a US helicopter crashed on to a school in Okinawa, renewing tensions with the local population. Over the past years, a number of accidents and crimes have led to growing local opposition to the US base there.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1496, "answer_start": 551, "text": "Japanese Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Japanese aircraft and three vessels were taking part in the rescue operation. The US 7th Fleet is supporting the operation, with navy aircraft being deployed. A Marines statement said: \"We are thankful for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's efforts as they immediately responded in the search and rescue operation.\" The Marines Corps tweeted that the incident occurred at about 02:00 local time on Thursday (17:00 GMT Wednesday). The first Marine was rescued about four hours later, Japanese officials said, while the second was found 10 hours after the collision. They said one of them was from the fighter jet. There were five personnel on the C-130 and two on the F-18. Japan said the search operation would continue overnight, Japan's NHK World reports. It quoted the head of Japan's Self-Defence Forces, Katsutoshi Kawano, as saying that search teams had spotted debris floating in the sea." } ], "id": "828_0", "question": "How is the rescue going?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2794, "answer_start": 1497, "text": "A Facebook posting by the III Marine Expeditionary Force said the incident took place 200 miles (320km) off the coast. The US planes had taken off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and \"were conducting regularly scheduled training when the mishap occurred\". The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says that air-to-air refuelling is a difficult and potentially dangerous flight operation, especially when done at night. He says it is not clear what the weather conditions were like but overnight there was widespread cloud and rain across the Japanese archipelago. The KC-130 is an extended-range tanker version of the C-130 and is used for mid-air refuelling. The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a fighter and attack aircraft and can carry a wide range of missiles and bombs. The US has more than 50,000 troops stationed in Japan, more than 18,000 of them in the US Marine Corps. The US has had problems with reliability of its aircraft in Japan. In November an F/A-18 Hornet crashed into the sea south of Okinawa. The two pilots ejected and were rescued. Last December, part of a US helicopter crashed on to a school in Okinawa, renewing tensions with the local population. Over the past years, a number of accidents and crimes have led to growing local opposition to the US base there." } ], "id": "828_1", "question": "How did the events unfold?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump is to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a second summit by the end of February, the White House says. The announcement came after Mr Trump met top North Korean negotiator Kim Yong-chol at the White House. He had been expected to deliver a letter from Kim Jong-un to Mr Trump. Little progress has been made on denuclearisation since their historic summit in Singapore last June. No venue has been announced for the new summit. Speculation is mounting that it could be held in Vietnam. Kim Yong-chol's visit to Washington is the first sign of movement in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea for months, BBC state department correspondent Barbara Plett Usher reports. It is not clear what the reported letter from Kim Jong-un contained. But it was expected to lay the groundwork for another summit, our correspondent adds. President Trump said he was looking forward to the talks. His press secretary Sarah Sanders said after the White House meeting that progress in the talks on denuclearisation continued, but added: \"The United States is going to continue to keep pressure and sanctions on North Korea.\" Not very much was agreed on in the Singapore summit, so there is little to measure success by. Nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled, no detailed account of North Korea's nuclear facilities has been provided and sanctions are still firmly in place. Mr Kim however, has been busy boosting his global image. He's improved relations with neighbouring South Korea, and both countries have destroyed guard posts along the heavily guarded demilitarised zone - and paid trips to each other's countries. Ties between North Korea and China also appear to have improved, with Mr Kim making multiple trips to Beijing to meet President Xi. The summit was historic for the fact that it happened at all - but on paper, all it really achieved was a vaguely-phrased agreement in which both countries agreed to work towards denuclearisation. It was never really made clear what denuclearisation would entail - the agreement did not include any timeline, details or mechanisms to verify this process. If there is a second summit, many will be expecting something more concrete to come out of it. Both North Korea and the US are unlikely to get away with calling another vague agreement a success. North Korea hasn't conducted a missile test since the summit. It's also dismantled a nuclear testing site and a key missile engine facility. It did however test out a new \"high-tech\" tactical weapon last November - its first official report of a weapons test in a year. This however, was not taken to represent a huge threat. But it's still not clear how many nuclear facilities still exist in North Korea. A report after last year's summit identified the extent of North Korea's network of missile bases. However, this is not a breach of the Singapore agreement - as North Korea has not made any commitment to halt any weapons development or shut down its missile bases. It should. Both sides appear to want it to happen. The last summit was a rollercoaster in itself - it was cancelled, and then restarted after a hand-delivered letter to Mr Trump from Mr Kim. It's not impossible that something similar might happen again - we'll just have to wait and see. This time, however, a letter appears to have arrived early enough.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2343, "answer_start": 1793, "text": "The summit was historic for the fact that it happened at all - but on paper, all it really achieved was a vaguely-phrased agreement in which both countries agreed to work towards denuclearisation. It was never really made clear what denuclearisation would entail - the agreement did not include any timeline, details or mechanisms to verify this process. If there is a second summit, many will be expecting something more concrete to come out of it. Both North Korea and the US are unlikely to get away with calling another vague agreement a success." } ], "id": "829_0", "question": "What was achieved at the Singapore summit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3015, "answer_start": 2344, "text": "North Korea hasn't conducted a missile test since the summit. It's also dismantled a nuclear testing site and a key missile engine facility. It did however test out a new \"high-tech\" tactical weapon last November - its first official report of a weapons test in a year. This however, was not taken to represent a huge threat. But it's still not clear how many nuclear facilities still exist in North Korea. A report after last year's summit identified the extent of North Korea's network of missile bases. However, this is not a breach of the Singapore agreement - as North Korea has not made any commitment to halt any weapons development or shut down its missile bases." } ], "id": "829_1", "question": "Where is North Korea's nuclear programme currently at?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3370, "answer_start": 3016, "text": "It should. Both sides appear to want it to happen. The last summit was a rollercoaster in itself - it was cancelled, and then restarted after a hand-delivered letter to Mr Trump from Mr Kim. It's not impossible that something similar might happen again - we'll just have to wait and see. This time, however, a letter appears to have arrived early enough." } ], "id": "829_2", "question": "Will the new summit actually happen?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Downing Street has said its adviser Andrew Sabisky has resigned, following criticism of alleged past remarks on pregnancies, eugenics and race. Labour had called for Mr Sabisky to go for reportedly saying black people had lower average IQs than white people. He is also alleged to have said compulsory contraception could prevent \"creating a permanent underclass\". Mr Sabisky tweeted: \"I wanted to help the government not be a distraction... accordingly I've decided to resign.\" \"I know this will disappoint a lot of people but I signed up to do real work, not be in the middle of a giant character assassination,\" it continued. \"If I can't do the work properly there's no point, and I have a lot of other things to do with my life.\" Mr Sabisky, who describes himself as a \"superforecaster\", was appointed earlier this year after the prime minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings called for \"misfits and weirdos\" to apply for jobs in Downing Street. Leaving his home on Tuesday, Mr Cummings told reporters: \"Read Philip Tetlock's Superforecasters, instead of political pundits who don't know what they're talking about.\" The reference appeared to be to a 2015 book of similar name on the science of prediction, Superforecasting, co-written by US-based academic Philip Tetlock. Also speaking on Tuesday, Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said Mr Sabisky's alleged remarks had been \"racist\" and \"totally unacceptable\". Asked how Mr Sabisky had been selected, Mr Kwarteng replied: \"I've no idea what the process is. That's not my remit. I think it's unfortunate that he was hired\". \"I think we should prevent racists coming into No 10 or wherever he was working. I think we do need to look at these processes,\" he told BBC Radio 5 Live, adding that it was \"time to move on\". When asked on Monday, Downing Street did not comment on the remarks attributed to Mr Sabisky. Boris Johnson's spokesman said at the time: \"The prime minister's views on a range of subjects are well publicised and documented.\" Responding to news of the resignation, Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: \"It's right that Andrew Sabisky is no longer working in government. \"After No 10 publicly stood by him today, Boris Johnson has serious questions to answer about how this appointment was made and whether he agrees with his vile views.\" Tory MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she was \"relieved\" Mr Sabisky had resigned. However, she criticised the reaction from No 10, adding they \"could have distanced themselves from his youthful comments at any point, but they chose not to do so\". In a comment on a 2014 blog post on Mr Cummings' website, made by a user called \"Andrew Sabisky\", it is suggested that compulsory contraception could be used to stop a \"permanent underclass\". \"One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty,\" says the post. \"Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue.\" In a comment on another blog post on a different website in 2014, what appears to be the same user suggested black Americans had a lower average IQ than white Americans. In a comment on a different blog that same year, a user with his name said: \"There are excellent reasons to think the very real racial differences in intelligence are significantly - even mostly - genetic in origin, though the degree is of course a very serious subject of scholarly debate.\" Mr Sabisky also suggested to Schools Week in July 2016 that the benefits of a purported cognitive enhancer, which can prove fatal, are \"probably worth a dead kid once a year\". \"Eugenics are about selecting 'for' good things,\" he said in the same interview. \"Intelligence is largely inherited and it correlates with better outcomes: physical health, income, lower mental illness. And in a Twitter post from 2019, he said: \"I am always straight up in saying that women's sport is more comparable to the Paralympics than it is to men's.\" Mr Sabisky's comments, and the government's reaction to the remarks, were criticised by opposition parties as well as members of the prime minister's own party. Acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey had called the government \"a national embarrassment\". While Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: \"These are really not acceptable headlines for any government to be generating.\" Tory MP William Wragg also attacked the government's decision to appoint him, tweeting: \"Andrew Sabisky's presence in No 10 is a poor reflection on the government... 'Weirdos' and 'misfits' are all very well, but please can they not gratuitously cause offence.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4737, "answer_start": 4086, "text": "Mr Sabisky's comments, and the government's reaction to the remarks, were criticised by opposition parties as well as members of the prime minister's own party. Acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey had called the government \"a national embarrassment\". While Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: \"These are really not acceptable headlines for any government to be generating.\" Tory MP William Wragg also attacked the government's decision to appoint him, tweeting: \"Andrew Sabisky's presence in No 10 is a poor reflection on the government... 'Weirdos' and 'misfits' are all very well, but please can they not gratuitously cause offence.\"" } ], "id": "830_0", "question": "What was the reaction when the remarks were uncovered?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski have been expelled from the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The academy - which runs the Oscars - said this was done in accordance with its standards of conduct. TV star Cosby was convicted of sexual assault last month. Oscar-winning director Polanski admitted unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Producer Harvey Weinstein was kicked out last year, following numerous allegations of sexual assault. Less than a year after the downfall of the producer the #MeToo movement is catching up with other men who abused their power, the BBC's James Cook in Los Angeles reports. Neither Cosby nor Polanski have publicly reacted to the academy's decision. Cosby's wife, Camille, described his conviction as \"mob justice, not real justice\". \"This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country,\" she said. The prestigious organisation made the announcement on Thursday - two days after its board members voted on the issue. In a statement, it said its board \"has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership in accordance with the organisation's Standards of Conduct\". \"The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity,\" it added. Only four people are known to have been expelled in its 91-year history. The first was actor Carmine Caridi, who had his membership revoked in 2004 after he allegedly sent confidential film preview videos to a friend which ended up online. On social media, many people have been asking what took the academy so long to take action against Polanski, who has been honoured in the decades since he admitted to statutory rape. - 1981: Best Director for Tess - 2003: Best Picture for The Pianist - 2003: Best Director for The Pianist (which he won) The unlawful sex case against Polanski, now aged 84, has dragged on for more than 40 years. Polanski admitted unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer, who was a minor in 1977, and served 42 days in prison, but later fled the US over concern that a plea bargain deal would be scrapped. He has French and Polish citizenship, and has evaded various extradition attempts by US authorities. France - where he lives - does not extradite its own citizens. A Polish court also rejected a US request when he was filming in Krakow in 2015. The Swiss authorities also turned down a US warrant in 2010, after placing Polanski under house arrest for nine months. Last year, he was picked to head the jury at the Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars. He stepped down after the move sparked outrage. Last year, Ms Geimer told a US court she had forgiven Polanski and wanted to move on. But the court refused her plea. By James Cook, BBC News, Los Angeles Why now? That's the question, isn't it? For Bill Cosby, the answer appears obvious. A criminal conviction seems to be the standard which was applied in this case: expulsion from the academy came just one week after a guilty verdict. Roman Polanski's expulsion, by very stark contrast, comes more than 2,000 weeks after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor. Not only that but Harvey Weinstein was expelled without a criminal conviction although he faces (and denies) allegations of rape. So why did it take Hollywood more than 40 years to decide that the statutory rape of a 13-year-old was beneath its precious \"values of respect for human dignity\"? The academy recently implemented revised standards of conduct for its 8,400 members, including a provision to suspend or expel those who \"compromise the integrity\" of the organisation. The real answer though does not lie in bureaucracy but in shame. The industry has been shamed into action by the disinfecting sunlight of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements. The problem for the academy is that this harsh glare is shining on many other members and with each expulsion the pressure grows to act in those cases too. In April, Cosby, 80, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, each of which carries a potential 10 years in prison. He was on trial for drugging and assaulting ex-basketball player Andrea Constand in 2004. It was the second time the actor had stood trial for the allegations, after an earlier jury failed to reach a verdict in 2017. Cosby starred in sitcom The Cosby Show, which was a global hit and ran from 1984-92. Cosby was widely known as \"America's Dad\" for his fatherly role in the comedy. At one point, he was the highest-paid actor in the US.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1737, "answer_start": 872, "text": "The prestigious organisation made the announcement on Thursday - two days after its board members voted on the issue. In a statement, it said its board \"has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership in accordance with the organisation's Standards of Conduct\". \"The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity,\" it added. Only four people are known to have been expelled in its 91-year history. The first was actor Carmine Caridi, who had his membership revoked in 2004 after he allegedly sent confidential film preview videos to a friend which ended up online. On social media, many people have been asking what took the academy so long to take action against Polanski, who has been honoured in the decades since he admitted to statutory rape." } ], "id": "831_0", "question": "What did the academy say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2762, "answer_start": 1859, "text": "The unlawful sex case against Polanski, now aged 84, has dragged on for more than 40 years. Polanski admitted unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer, who was a minor in 1977, and served 42 days in prison, but later fled the US over concern that a plea bargain deal would be scrapped. He has French and Polish citizenship, and has evaded various extradition attempts by US authorities. France - where he lives - does not extradite its own citizens. A Polish court also rejected a US request when he was filming in Krakow in 2015. The Swiss authorities also turned down a US warrant in 2010, after placing Polanski under house arrest for nine months. Last year, he was picked to head the jury at the Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars. He stepped down after the move sparked outrage. Last year, Ms Geimer told a US court she had forgiven Polanski and wanted to move on. But the court refused her plea." } ], "id": "831_1", "question": "What did Polanski do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3972, "answer_start": 2763, "text": "By James Cook, BBC News, Los Angeles Why now? That's the question, isn't it? For Bill Cosby, the answer appears obvious. A criminal conviction seems to be the standard which was applied in this case: expulsion from the academy came just one week after a guilty verdict. Roman Polanski's expulsion, by very stark contrast, comes more than 2,000 weeks after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor. Not only that but Harvey Weinstein was expelled without a criminal conviction although he faces (and denies) allegations of rape. So why did it take Hollywood more than 40 years to decide that the statutory rape of a 13-year-old was beneath its precious \"values of respect for human dignity\"? The academy recently implemented revised standards of conduct for its 8,400 members, including a provision to suspend or expel those who \"compromise the integrity\" of the organisation. The real answer though does not lie in bureaucracy but in shame. The industry has been shamed into action by the disinfecting sunlight of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements. The problem for the academy is that this harsh glare is shining on many other members and with each expulsion the pressure grows to act in those cases too." } ], "id": "831_2", "question": "Why now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4535, "answer_start": 3973, "text": "In April, Cosby, 80, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, each of which carries a potential 10 years in prison. He was on trial for drugging and assaulting ex-basketball player Andrea Constand in 2004. It was the second time the actor had stood trial for the allegations, after an earlier jury failed to reach a verdict in 2017. Cosby starred in sitcom The Cosby Show, which was a global hit and ran from 1984-92. Cosby was widely known as \"America's Dad\" for his fatherly role in the comedy. At one point, he was the highest-paid actor in the US." } ], "id": "831_3", "question": "What about Cosby's conviction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "South African police have identified the body of a British botanist kidnapped with her husband in a case with suspected links to the Islamic State group (IS). Rachel Saunders, 63, and her husband Rodney Saunders, 74, were last seen alive on 10 February. Police found Rodney's body on 17 February in a river. Authorities identified Rachel's body on Wednesday but they did not say where they had found her remains. Capt Lloyd Ramovha, of the elite Hawks investigative unit, said in a statement: \"A multi-pronged investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory... led to the positive identification of the mortal remains of Rachel Saunders.\" The pair, who owned a seed business in Cape Town, were on a trip looking for rare seeds in KwaZulu-Natal province when they were taken. After the couple's disappearance, their car was found with blood marks and 734,000 rand (PS42,000) was reportedly drained from their bank accounts. The BBC has declined to comment on reports that, shortly before they were kidnapped, the couple had been working with a film crew from the television programme Gardeners' World. The body of Mr Saunders was found by fishermen in the Tugela river and identified several weeks later. Their disappearance led the British Foreign Office to update its warning about the threat of a terrorist attack in the country, which upset many South Africans. Suspects Fatima Patel, 27, and Saffydeen Aslam del Vecchio, 38, were arrested on 16 February, one day before Rodney's body was found. Before the arrests, they were both under police surveillance and are alleged to have hoisted an IS flag in the reserve where the couple disappeared. Ms Patel had previously been arrested, with her brother, in 2016 during a separate anti-terrorism raid closer to Johannesburg. Neither of them were charged. Themba Xulu, 19, was later arrested after the couples' mobile phones were found in his possession, with a fourth suspect named as Ahmad Mussa, 36, from Malawi. Xulu received a suspended three-year sentence after striking a plea bargain with prosecutors, with the rest still in custody and due in court on 24 August on murder, kidnapping and robbery charges. There have been no known attacks by IS, or any other jihadist group, in South Africa. The most prominent case ever linked to IS in the country involved the Thulsie twins - Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee. They were arrested during raids in 2016 that also saw Fatima Patel detained - though she was not charged at the time. The twins are expected to face trial on terrorism charges related to alleged plans to attack the US embassy in South Africa and Jewish targets.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1449, "answer_start": 724, "text": "The pair, who owned a seed business in Cape Town, were on a trip looking for rare seeds in KwaZulu-Natal province when they were taken. After the couple's disappearance, their car was found with blood marks and 734,000 rand (PS42,000) was reportedly drained from their bank accounts. The BBC has declined to comment on reports that, shortly before they were kidnapped, the couple had been working with a film crew from the television programme Gardeners' World. The body of Mr Saunders was found by fishermen in the Tugela river and identified several weeks later. Their disappearance led the British Foreign Office to update its warning about the threat of a terrorist attack in the country, which upset many South Africans." } ], "id": "832_0", "question": "What do we know happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2247, "answer_start": 1450, "text": "Suspects Fatima Patel, 27, and Saffydeen Aslam del Vecchio, 38, were arrested on 16 February, one day before Rodney's body was found. Before the arrests, they were both under police surveillance and are alleged to have hoisted an IS flag in the reserve where the couple disappeared. Ms Patel had previously been arrested, with her brother, in 2016 during a separate anti-terrorism raid closer to Johannesburg. Neither of them were charged. Themba Xulu, 19, was later arrested after the couples' mobile phones were found in his possession, with a fourth suspect named as Ahmad Mussa, 36, from Malawi. Xulu received a suspended three-year sentence after striking a plea bargain with prosecutors, with the rest still in custody and due in court on 24 August on murder, kidnapping and robbery charges." } ], "id": "832_1", "question": "How did the investigation unfold?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2707, "answer_start": 2248, "text": "There have been no known attacks by IS, or any other jihadist group, in South Africa. The most prominent case ever linked to IS in the country involved the Thulsie twins - Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee. They were arrested during raids in 2016 that also saw Fatima Patel detained - though she was not charged at the time. The twins are expected to face trial on terrorism charges related to alleged plans to attack the US embassy in South Africa and Jewish targets." } ], "id": "832_2", "question": "Does IS have a presence in South Africa?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Rescue workers in Chile have found human remains after an air force plane with 38 people on board went missing on Monday. There were no survivors, said Chilean Air Force head Arturo Merino. Magallanes Governor Jose Fernandez said relatives of those missing had been informed of the find. Earlier, Chile's air force said that wreckage had been found floating in the area where the C-130 Hercules cargo plane had last made contact. It was en route to a military base in the Antarctic. Mr Merino said the human remains \"are most likely to be body parts of those travelling on the C-130\". \"The condition of the remains we discovered make it practically impossible that anyone could have survived the plane accident,\" he added. Earlier, Governor Fernandez said a wheel from the plane, part of the landing gear and the fuselage had been recovered, and that more pieces were floating in the sea. The wreckage was located 30km from the plane's last-known position. Air Force Commander Eduardo Mosqueira said the air force would carry out \"corresponding checks\" to determine whether the wreckage was from the missing plane. He also said that personal items suspected to have come from those on board the plane had been found. A Brazilian navy ship sent to aid with the search efforts also located some debris. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted that \"polar ship Almirante Maximiano of the Brazilian navy collected, at about 15:45, personal items and wreckage matching that of the Hercules C-130 of the Chilean air force\". The plane was en route from Chile's southern city of Punta Arenas to the country's Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva base in the Antarctic. Contact with the plane was lost at 18:13 local time (21:13 GMT) on Monday, shortly after the C-130 took off from Punta Arenas. The Chilean air force released a map of the plane's flight path and a timeline showing it had been due to land at 19:17 on Monday at Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva. A massive air and sea search was launched soon after the plane went missing. Argentina, Brazil, the UK and Uruguay have sent planes to help with the search in the icy waters, while the US and Israel have been providing satellite images. Three of the passengers were Chilean soldiers, two were civilians employed by engineering and construction firm Inproser, one was a student and the remaining 15 passengers were members of the air force, an official said. Ignacio Parada had been studying civil chemical engineering at Magallanes University and was heading to the Antarctic base for an internship. His professors described the 24-year-old as \"an excellent student\". He was particularly interested in renewable energy, he had said recently. Inproser employees Leonel Cabrera and Jacob Pizarro were going to carry out work on the military base. The three soldiers who boarded the Hercules plane on Monday were Col Christian Astorquiza, Lt Col Oscar Saavedra and Maj Gen Daniel Ortiz. There was only one woman on board: 37-year-old geographer Claudia Manzo joined the air force in 2008 and was passionate about remote sensing - obtaining information about areas from a distance by aircraft or satellites. Also among those travelling to the base were two brothers, Luis and Jeremias Mancilla. Jeremias, 27, had been hired by the air force to carry out work on the electrical circuits on the base. His older brother Luis was sergeant in the air force.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1520, "answer_start": 483, "text": "Mr Merino said the human remains \"are most likely to be body parts of those travelling on the C-130\". \"The condition of the remains we discovered make it practically impossible that anyone could have survived the plane accident,\" he added. Earlier, Governor Fernandez said a wheel from the plane, part of the landing gear and the fuselage had been recovered, and that more pieces were floating in the sea. The wreckage was located 30km from the plane's last-known position. Air Force Commander Eduardo Mosqueira said the air force would carry out \"corresponding checks\" to determine whether the wreckage was from the missing plane. He also said that personal items suspected to have come from those on board the plane had been found. A Brazilian navy ship sent to aid with the search efforts also located some debris. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted that \"polar ship Almirante Maximiano of the Brazilian navy collected, at about 15:45, personal items and wreckage matching that of the Hercules C-130 of the Chilean air force\"." } ], "id": "833_0", "question": "What has been found?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2190, "answer_start": 1521, "text": "The plane was en route from Chile's southern city of Punta Arenas to the country's Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva base in the Antarctic. Contact with the plane was lost at 18:13 local time (21:13 GMT) on Monday, shortly after the C-130 took off from Punta Arenas. The Chilean air force released a map of the plane's flight path and a timeline showing it had been due to land at 19:17 on Monday at Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva. A massive air and sea search was launched soon after the plane went missing. Argentina, Brazil, the UK and Uruguay have sent planes to help with the search in the icy waters, while the US and Israel have been providing satellite images." } ], "id": "833_1", "question": "What is known about its route?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3402, "answer_start": 2191, "text": "Three of the passengers were Chilean soldiers, two were civilians employed by engineering and construction firm Inproser, one was a student and the remaining 15 passengers were members of the air force, an official said. Ignacio Parada had been studying civil chemical engineering at Magallanes University and was heading to the Antarctic base for an internship. His professors described the 24-year-old as \"an excellent student\". He was particularly interested in renewable energy, he had said recently. Inproser employees Leonel Cabrera and Jacob Pizarro were going to carry out work on the military base. The three soldiers who boarded the Hercules plane on Monday were Col Christian Astorquiza, Lt Col Oscar Saavedra and Maj Gen Daniel Ortiz. There was only one woman on board: 37-year-old geographer Claudia Manzo joined the air force in 2008 and was passionate about remote sensing - obtaining information about areas from a distance by aircraft or satellites. Also among those travelling to the base were two brothers, Luis and Jeremias Mancilla. Jeremias, 27, had been hired by the air force to carry out work on the electrical circuits on the base. His older brother Luis was sergeant in the air force." } ], "id": "833_2", "question": "Who was on board?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Euphoric Russians took to the streets when their team advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Cup by beating Spain. But hours before Sunday's match, in 38 Russian towns and cities, there were protests at government plans to raise the retirement age for men and women. In the Siberian city of Omsk 3,000 people turned out, according to the organisers. \"Help the state, die before your pension,\" read one home-made placard. \"The government must go,\" read another. You would not have seen them in any of the 11 World Cup cities, because of a ban on demonstrations for the duration of the tournament. Under the new plan, to be implemented gradually from 2019, the retirement age for men will be increased by five years to 65. Women will have to work another eight years from 55 to 63. Unusually for Russia, protesters in Omsk were from all sides of the political debate. Communist Party red flags and nationalist banners flew side by side, and opposition supporters joined in too. Read more Russian World Cup stories \"I'm here because the government is stealing from us,\" said Ivan Vasilievich, a pensioner in his 70s who supplements his pension with a job as a security guard. \"My granddaughter and her children couldn't survive without the money I bring in.\" That some Russians are prepared to tear themselves away from the football, and take to the streets in a summer heat wave, is an indication of how angry they feel. It is not just because their government wants to raise the pension age for the first time since Stalin, but also because of how it has all been handled. The televised announcement by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev coincided with the opening of the tournament on 14 June, prompting criticism that the government was burying bad news. And it came despite past promises from President Vladimir Putin that the pension age would never be raised on his watch. The prime minister says the decision was motivated by the fact that Russians are living longer and leading more active lives. \"There are more opportunities to continue their careers,\" he told a cabinet meeting. \"We have 12 million working pensioners: that's almost a quarter of all pensioners.\" Most economists and many Russians agree there is a problem. The population is getting older and the state is spending more and more on pensions. After the economic chaos of the early 1990s, Russia's population plummeted. The birth rate has since shown some signs of improvement, but it is not happening fast enough. Based on current trends, 20% of Russians will be over 65 by 2050, says the UN. President Putin has just signed a new bill on pension spending, envisaging a deficit of more than 265bn roubles (PS3.1bn; $4.2bn) in 2018. That's 1.6% of the entire state budget expenditure. It is clearly not a sustainable situation, especially in tough economic times. Population: 143.5 million Unemployment: 5.2% Economic growth: 1.5% (in 2017) Source: OECD; Tass While economists agree the reforms will help balance the books, many question why they were not implemented earlier when the economy was in better shape. \"Putting off an unpopular but inevitable measure... shows an unforgivable lack of seriousness by the government,\" say two top economists from Moscow's Higher School of the Economy, Ilya Kashnitsky and Vladimir Kozlov. Although the reforms won't come into full effect until 2028 for men and 2034 for women, ordinary Russians worry about the impact. \"They haven't given us more years of work, just more years of poverty,\" said one banner at the Omsk protest. Moscow accountant Larisa Grigorieva, 57, retired two years ago and has tried and failed to find work ever since, struggling to compete in a changing market. \"I'm not getting any responses. They see you're 57 and no-one's interested,\" she says. Unless workers of Larisa's generation are given suitable training, many are likely to end up in the shadow economy with lower pay and few rights. The other problem for many Russians is the worry that they will not even live to retirement age. That is because average life expectancy for men in 15 Russian regions is currently lower than the new retirement age of 65. Most of these areas are in the Far East but some are in the west. So far the president has refrained from comment. His spokesman says he has not even been involved in the discussions, leaving some to speculate he might intervene at some point. But two recent sets of polls show Mr Putin's popularity has taken a dent. According to state pollster VTsIOM, his approval rating fell by 14 points from 78% to 64% in the two weeks since the reform. And the independent Levada Centre published a survey on Tuesday showing trust in the president had dropped below 50% for the first time in five years. \"I wouldn't make a big thing out of it,\" said his spokesman. At the Omsk protest, many seemed reluctant to blame the president personally. \"Please stop Medvedev!\" read one placard. But not everyone agreed. \"Prosecute Putin and Medvedev,\" said another. When the World Cup ends, so does the ban on protests in host cities. That is when the next chapter in this row will unfold.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2172, "answer_start": 1577, "text": "The televised announcement by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev coincided with the opening of the tournament on 14 June, prompting criticism that the government was burying bad news. And it came despite past promises from President Vladimir Putin that the pension age would never be raised on his watch. The prime minister says the decision was motivated by the fact that Russians are living longer and leading more active lives. \"There are more opportunities to continue their careers,\" he told a cabinet meeting. \"We have 12 million working pensioners: that's almost a quarter of all pensioners.\"" } ], "id": "834_0", "question": "Burying bad news?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4221, "answer_start": 3545, "text": "Moscow accountant Larisa Grigorieva, 57, retired two years ago and has tried and failed to find work ever since, struggling to compete in a changing market. \"I'm not getting any responses. They see you're 57 and no-one's interested,\" she says. Unless workers of Larisa's generation are given suitable training, many are likely to end up in the shadow economy with lower pay and few rights. The other problem for many Russians is the worry that they will not even live to retirement age. That is because average life expectancy for men in 15 Russian regions is currently lower than the new retirement age of 65. Most of these areas are in the Far East but some are in the west." } ], "id": "834_1", "question": "Is Russia equipped for a higher retirement age?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5125, "answer_start": 4222, "text": "So far the president has refrained from comment. His spokesman says he has not even been involved in the discussions, leaving some to speculate he might intervene at some point. But two recent sets of polls show Mr Putin's popularity has taken a dent. According to state pollster VTsIOM, his approval rating fell by 14 points from 78% to 64% in the two weeks since the reform. And the independent Levada Centre published a survey on Tuesday showing trust in the president had dropped below 50% for the first time in five years. \"I wouldn't make a big thing out of it,\" said his spokesman. At the Omsk protest, many seemed reluctant to blame the president personally. \"Please stop Medvedev!\" read one placard. But not everyone agreed. \"Prosecute Putin and Medvedev,\" said another. When the World Cup ends, so does the ban on protests in host cities. That is when the next chapter in this row will unfold." } ], "id": "834_2", "question": "Could Putin be hit by pension row?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "St Olave's in Orpington is an intensely competitive grammar school, with stellar exam results and a long queue of applicants trying to get through the entrance exams. But it's now at the centre of a row about whether it is playing fair. And it's highlighted a question relevant to many other state schools. A group of parents at the school are challenging a decision not to let some pupils progress from lower sixth into the upper sixth, because they are not on target to get good enough A-level results. This is far from unusual - many schools filter out pupils between lower and upper sixth (or Year 12 and Year 13). But what makes this different is that the parents are trying to launch a legal challenge. This is still at an early stage. But the parents' lawyers are claiming that stopping pupils moving from lower to upper sixth is in effect a permanent exclusion. Pupils can be excluded for bad behaviour or bad attendance, but they can't be excluded for not doing very well in exams. As such, the parents' lawyers argue that these are unlawful exclusions, and they are calling on the courts to order a reversal. This argument says that there might be admissions rules when pupils start a school, or join in sixth form, but once they have been admitted, any removal of a pupil constitutes an exclusion, and exclusion rules should apply. The school has so far not commented. But the legal challenge is against a practice used by many head teachers, with selective and non-selective schools operating a variety of entrance policies for lower sixth and then onwards to upper sixth form. These can be formal thresholds, such as minimum grades in exams. Or they might rely on the professional judgement of teachers to decide whether a pupil is suitable for A-levels. They might be written down as formal \"progression policies\". For example, one successful sixth form tells pupils they will be \"at risk of not completing\" if they don't meet minimum requirements. There are schools that specifically assert their right to exercise their own \"discretion\" over such decisions. Others spell out that \"progression from Year 12 to Year 13 is not automatic\". And there are colleges that present entry to upper sixth as a separate application process after successfully navigating lower sixth. No mention of anyone being excluded, removed or kicked out, but if pupils don't meet the requirements, the message is pretty clear that they're not going to be taking their A-levels there. And schools are currently making their own decisions about where these thresholds should be placed - whether a bare pass or getting high grades. Schools have not seen this as an \"exclusion\", but a form of non-admission or non-progression. AS-levels until now have provided a clearer halfway point during sixth form. But their separation from A-levels, and their gradual disappearance, will make it even more a case of schools setting their own internal targets. Hovering in the background is the spectre of league tables and the risk of perverse incentives and unintended consequences. Removing weaker students before they take their A-levels will boost average results for a school. Helping a struggling student to get a D rather than an E, might make a big difference to that individual - but it's not going to do much for the league table rankings. There won't be a page on the school website talking about how many students achieved a few hard-fought E grades. In fact, for high-achieving schools, it might look better if struggling pupils didn't take their A-levels at all, or at least shifted to another school or college. The reason they might be so high achieving is that they have only high-achieving pupils taking the exams. But is this the logic of competition between schools? There is also the question of moral obligation. If a school has taught pupils since the age of 11, if the school has been the centre of their friendship groups, if it's where they have put down their roots, it seems tough to push them out the door at the very last stage. If they haven't been very successful in their exams, perhaps the school has some responsibility as well. There might plenty of parental sympathy for families seeing a pupil pushed out after lower sixth and having to scramble round for another school. And there are no league tables for the heartache for families. But from the perspective of schools, any legal involvement in such decisions is going to get very complicated indeed. Could lawyers get involved in every individual decision about whether someone should move into upper sixth? And even if pupils were admitted to the upper sixth, could schools be required to enter pupils for A-levels, if the staff thought them unsuited? Or would there have to be a further legal battle over each exam? An acrimonious exchange over this is suggested in the legal challenge at St Olave's. The school seems to have said pupils could return but they would have to take a vocational qualification in health and social care rather than A-levels. The next stage of the legal process will be next month. But the debate has already begun.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1589, "answer_start": 870, "text": "Pupils can be excluded for bad behaviour or bad attendance, but they can't be excluded for not doing very well in exams. As such, the parents' lawyers argue that these are unlawful exclusions, and they are calling on the courts to order a reversal. This argument says that there might be admissions rules when pupils start a school, or join in sixth form, but once they have been admitted, any removal of a pupil constitutes an exclusion, and exclusion rules should apply. The school has so far not commented. But the legal challenge is against a practice used by many head teachers, with selective and non-selective schools operating a variety of entrance policies for lower sixth and then onwards to upper sixth form." } ], "id": "835_0", "question": "Is it exclusion?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Rescue crews are now focusing on recovering victims buried beneath the collapsed bridge in Florida that left at least six people dead, police say. The 174ft (53m) concrete bridge near Florida International University in Miami fell on to an eight-lane street on Thursday. Police say more bodies could be found in crushed vehicles beneath the rubble. Emergency crews searched for trapped victims overnight while at least nine people were taken to hospital. Miami-Dade Fire Chief Dave Downey confirmed on Friday that authorities \"determined that there's no longer any survivors\", after visual and canine searches proved unsuccessful in finding anyone alive. \"We know there are bodies down there and we can't get to them. It's terrible,\" Miami-Dade Police Department director Juan Perez told a local radio station on Friday. Authorities have switched from rescue to recovery mode and are focused on removing \"all of the cars and all of the victims in a dignified manner\", said Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Maurice Kemp. Ms Kemp also insisted that a thorough investigation would be done to determine what led to the bridge collapse. Six people have been confirmed dead but rescuers are still uncovering cars in the rubble and expect to find more. Officials at Florida International University confirmed a student was among those killed. The victim's name was not released by authorities or the school, but local media have identified her as freshman Alexa Duraan. Lynette Gomez, her sorority sister, told CBS Miami that Ms Duraan was driving her car when the bridge collapsed and is still missing. Another person riding in the passenger seat was able to escape and is being treated for injuries at Kendall Regional hospital, CBS reports. \"He was able to get out but we haven't been able to find out where she is,\" her friend Manny Perez said. The death toll could still rise as more cars are uncovered. \"We cannot confirm identities of who is in there, so we're caught in a bad place right now. The last thing we want to do is disclose names,\" Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez. \"We're trying to navigate through some difficult times.\" The span connected the college to a student housing area and had long been requested by students at the university so they could avoid the traffic below, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. In August 2017, a student was hit and killed by cars while crossing the busy road. Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted \"thoughts and prayers\" for those affected by the tragedy. FIGG Engineering said it also was behind the bridge project. Both firms said they would co-operate with investigators. The bridge was erected on Saturday in just six hours. It was built using a method called \"accelerated bridge construction\" to avoid traffic disruption. A major section of the bridge was assembled on the side of the road and then raised into place. The university had touted the new swinging span on Twitter just days ago. Senator Marco Rubio said the bridge, which was still in the process of being installed, was having its cables tightened when it collapsed unexpectedly. Witnesses told local media that vehicles were stopped at a traffic light when the structure collapsed at about 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT). One witness told ABC News that the screams coming from the cars were \"terrifying\". \"As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere,\" Tiona Page said. \"I knew the bridge had collapsed.\" Giovanni Hernandez told CNN affiliate WSVN it \"sounded like a bomb, like multiple bombs in one\". \"It sounded like the world was ending, and when you look back, all you see is the bridge on the floor. It was awful.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2136, "answer_start": 1130, "text": "Six people have been confirmed dead but rescuers are still uncovering cars in the rubble and expect to find more. Officials at Florida International University confirmed a student was among those killed. The victim's name was not released by authorities or the school, but local media have identified her as freshman Alexa Duraan. Lynette Gomez, her sorority sister, told CBS Miami that Ms Duraan was driving her car when the bridge collapsed and is still missing. Another person riding in the passenger seat was able to escape and is being treated for injuries at Kendall Regional hospital, CBS reports. \"He was able to get out but we haven't been able to find out where she is,\" her friend Manny Perez said. The death toll could still rise as more cars are uncovered. \"We cannot confirm identities of who is in there, so we're caught in a bad place right now. The last thing we want to do is disclose names,\" Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez. \"We're trying to navigate through some difficult times.\"" } ], "id": "836_0", "question": "What is the latest on the victims?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3165, "answer_start": 2137, "text": "The span connected the college to a student housing area and had long been requested by students at the university so they could avoid the traffic below, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. In August 2017, a student was hit and killed by cars while crossing the busy road. Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted \"thoughts and prayers\" for those affected by the tragedy. FIGG Engineering said it also was behind the bridge project. Both firms said they would co-operate with investigators. The bridge was erected on Saturday in just six hours. It was built using a method called \"accelerated bridge construction\" to avoid traffic disruption. A major section of the bridge was assembled on the side of the road and then raised into place. The university had touted the new swinging span on Twitter just days ago. Senator Marco Rubio said the bridge, which was still in the process of being installed, was having its cables tightened when it collapsed unexpectedly." } ], "id": "836_1", "question": "What do we know about the bridge?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3717, "answer_start": 3166, "text": "Witnesses told local media that vehicles were stopped at a traffic light when the structure collapsed at about 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT). One witness told ABC News that the screams coming from the cars were \"terrifying\". \"As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere,\" Tiona Page said. \"I knew the bridge had collapsed.\" Giovanni Hernandez told CNN affiliate WSVN it \"sounded like a bomb, like multiple bombs in one\". \"It sounded like the world was ending, and when you look back, all you see is the bridge on the floor. It was awful.\"" } ], "id": "836_2", "question": "What have eyewitnesses said?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A 3D version of the latest Bourne movie made exclusively for Chinese cinemas has caused local audiences to complain about headaches and nausea. The format remains hugely popular in the country, particularly when it comes to action movies. But the conversion process required to give the 2D-shot film an extra dimension seems to have been ill-judged in this case. Cinemas usually charge more for movies screened in three dimensions, so there's an obvious incentive to show them in the format. But while Europe and the US have seen ticket sales for 3D movies decline, there's still a strong appetite for the technology in China. Many theatres in the country are fairly new and have equipped themselves with the latest projectors. When it comes to 3D movies, however, there are two kinds. \"Real\" 3D movies are shot with a dual-lens cameras, which capture two versions of every shot. Special glasses let viewers see a different one with each eye. Many critics believe this delivers the best illusion of depth. But another, cheaper option is to film in 2D and then simulate the effect in post production by using computers. While this can work well for some movies, it does not for others, with Jason Bourne being a case in point. Its director Paul Greengrass shot several sequences using a handheld camera and then made rapid cuts to create a fast-paced, hectic edit. It appears that converting this into 3D has made the film hard to watch, and has caused audiences to feel nauseous. Normally, Chinese cinemas offer audiences a choice. But in the case of Matt Damon's new movie, the vast majority opted only to show it in 3D in its opening week. Out of 149 cinemas in Beijing, only eight are currently showing the 2D version, according to local media. In Shanghai, it's said to be only nine out of 174. Movie-goers have complained about this on social media, with some claiming it's an attempt to force them to pay premium prices. Following the backlash, Universal Picture says it now aims to add more 2D screenings. Until then, though, China's Bourne fans may have to brace themselves for a rough ride.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2099, "answer_start": 1480, "text": "Normally, Chinese cinemas offer audiences a choice. But in the case of Matt Damon's new movie, the vast majority opted only to show it in 3D in its opening week. Out of 149 cinemas in Beijing, only eight are currently showing the 2D version, according to local media. In Shanghai, it's said to be only nine out of 174. Movie-goers have complained about this on social media, with some claiming it's an attempt to force them to pay premium prices. Following the backlash, Universal Picture says it now aims to add more 2D screenings. Until then, though, China's Bourne fans may have to brace themselves for a rough ride." } ], "id": "837_0", "question": "Why not watch in 2D?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Flight data from the Ethiopian Airlines disaster a week ago suggest \"clear similarities\" with a crash off Indonesia last October, Ethiopia's transport minister has said. Both planes were Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. Last Sunday the Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges told journalists that a preliminary report would be released within 30 days. \"Clear similarities were noted between Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Indonesian Lion Air Flight 610, which would be the subject of further study during the investigation,\" Ms Dagmawit told journalists on Sunday. In both cases flight tracking data showed the aircraft's altitude had fluctuated sharply, as the planes seemed to experience erratic climbs and descents. Boeing Chairman and CEO Dennis Muilenburg later reaffirmed that the company was supporting the investigation. In a statement, he added that Boeing was going ahead with a software update that will address the behaviour of the flight control system \"in response to erroneous sensor inputs\". Also on Sunday, ceremonies took place both in Kenya and Ethiopia to honour the victims. Thousands of people gathered in the Holy Trinity cathedral in Addis Ababa where empty coffins were draped in the national flag. None of the bodies has yet been formally identified because of the impact. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 took off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on the morning of 10 March, bound for Nairobi in Kenya. Minutes into the flight, the pilot reported difficulties and asked to return. Visibility was said to be good but air traffic monitor Flightradar24 said the plane's \"vertical speed was unstable after take-off\". An eyewitness at the scene told the BBC there was an intense fire as the aircraft hit the ground. French air safety investigators examined the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder - or black boxes as they are often called - and have handed over their findings to their Ethiopian counterparts. On 29 October Lion Air Flight 610 crashed after taking off from Jakarta airport, killing 189 people. Investigators later identified problems with the anti-stall system, which is designed to stop a plane from pointing upwards at too high an angle where it could lose its lift. During flight JT610, the system repeatedly forced the plane's nose down, even when the plane was not stalling - possibly due to a faulty sensor. Pilots tried to correct this by pointing the nose higher, until the system pushed it down again. This happened more than 20 times. Following the second crash, airlines around the world grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2040, "answer_start": 1388, "text": "Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 took off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on the morning of 10 March, bound for Nairobi in Kenya. Minutes into the flight, the pilot reported difficulties and asked to return. Visibility was said to be good but air traffic monitor Flightradar24 said the plane's \"vertical speed was unstable after take-off\". An eyewitness at the scene told the BBC there was an intense fire as the aircraft hit the ground. French air safety investigators examined the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder - or black boxes as they are often called - and have handed over their findings to their Ethiopian counterparts." } ], "id": "838_0", "question": "What do we know about the Ethiopian Airlines crash?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2688, "answer_start": 2041, "text": "On 29 October Lion Air Flight 610 crashed after taking off from Jakarta airport, killing 189 people. Investigators later identified problems with the anti-stall system, which is designed to stop a plane from pointing upwards at too high an angle where it could lose its lift. During flight JT610, the system repeatedly forced the plane's nose down, even when the plane was not stalling - possibly due to a faulty sensor. Pilots tried to correct this by pointing the nose higher, until the system pushed it down again. This happened more than 20 times. Following the second crash, airlines around the world grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft." } ], "id": "838_1", "question": "What happened in Indonesia?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will be hosting a fundraising dinner to help secure $1bn (PS750m) for infrastructure projects in the capital. Officials said tickets will be charged at more than $175,000 per person, but further details are unclear. The dinner hopes to boost foreign investment into one of Africa's fastest growing economies. Since coming to power last year, Mr Abiy has pushed for wide-scale economic reform in Ethiopia. A video released by the prime minister's has set out plans for the redevelopment of Addis Ababa, including an expansion of green spaces and retail areas. Correspondents say Ethiopia likes to raise funds itself rather than rely heavily on foreign donors. Similar events have been arranged for economic investment and humanitarian relief. Prime Minister Abiy sold his watch for $175,000 during a recent event for infrastructure development in Ambo, 100km (60 miles) west of Addis Ababa. About $14m was raised in total. Mr Abiy came to power after three years of protest led by ethnic Oromos, who were demanding an end to what they considered their political and economic marginalisation. The prime minister, who is Oromo himself, has pushed through a series of significant reforms, making peace with neighbouring Eritrea and releasing the state's tight grip on parts of the economy. His economic ambitions including a multibillion-dollar privatisation of Ethiopia's telecoms, energy, shipping and sugar industries. A domestic stock exchange is set to launch in 2020. The reforms have attracted millions of dollars in foreign investment, especially from the Middle East. But Mr Abiy's crackdown on corruption has drawn criticism from members of the country's previous regime. In June 2018, he was targeted in bomb attack which killed two people at a rally in support of his government.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1823, "answer_start": 958, "text": "Mr Abiy came to power after three years of protest led by ethnic Oromos, who were demanding an end to what they considered their political and economic marginalisation. The prime minister, who is Oromo himself, has pushed through a series of significant reforms, making peace with neighbouring Eritrea and releasing the state's tight grip on parts of the economy. His economic ambitions including a multibillion-dollar privatisation of Ethiopia's telecoms, energy, shipping and sugar industries. A domestic stock exchange is set to launch in 2020. The reforms have attracted millions of dollars in foreign investment, especially from the Middle East. But Mr Abiy's crackdown on corruption has drawn criticism from members of the country's previous regime. In June 2018, he was targeted in bomb attack which killed two people at a rally in support of his government." } ], "id": "839_0", "question": "Who is Abiy Ahmed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "China's chief economic planner said the world's second biggest economy will \"absolutely not experience a hard landing\" despite growth forecast cuts. Predictions of an abrupt economic slowdown are \"destined to come to nothing\", said Xu Shaoshi, head of China's state planning agency. China's National People's Congress on Saturday lowered the economic growth target for 2016 to a range of 6.5%-7%. Last year, China's goal was \"about 7%\", but the economy actually grew by 6.9%. That was the lowest expansion in 25 years. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced the lower growth range in his opening speech at the annual meeting in Beijing, warning of a \"difficult battle\" ahead. Why China's National People's Congress matters Mr Xu, who heads up the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said that slowing growth in the broader world economy posed difficulties for China this year. \"First, we estimate the slow recovery and low growth rates in the world's economy will continue for a period of time,\" he told reporters on the sidelines of the People's Congress. \"Also we could not overlook the risks from unstable [global] financial markets, falling prices of commodities and risks of geopolitics.\" The People's Congress, which meets once a year, sets out to determine both the economic and political agenda for the country. It comes at a time when China is struggling with slowing economic growth and a shift away from overreliance on manufacturing and heavy industry. Under China's 1982 constitution, the most powerful organ of state is meant to be the National People's Congress, China's parliament. Critics argue though that it is little more than a rubber stamp for party decisions. The congress is made up of nearly 3,000 delegates elected by China's provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the armed forces. Delegates hold office for five years, and the full congress is convened for one session each year. This sporadic and unwieldy nature means that real influence lies within a standing committee of about 150 members elected from congress delegates. It meets every couple of months. In theory, the congress has the powers to change the constitution and make laws. But it is not seen as an independent body in the Western sense of a parliament.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2272, "answer_start": 1478, "text": "Under China's 1982 constitution, the most powerful organ of state is meant to be the National People's Congress, China's parliament. Critics argue though that it is little more than a rubber stamp for party decisions. The congress is made up of nearly 3,000 delegates elected by China's provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the armed forces. Delegates hold office for five years, and the full congress is convened for one session each year. This sporadic and unwieldy nature means that real influence lies within a standing committee of about 150 members elected from congress delegates. It meets every couple of months. In theory, the congress has the powers to change the constitution and make laws. But it is not seen as an independent body in the Western sense of a parliament." } ], "id": "840_0", "question": "What is the National People's Congress?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The attacks on Saudi oil installations have led to speculation that armed drones were involved. Both the United States and the Saudi authorities say this may well have been the case. The offensive use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has grown significantly in recent years, and nowhere more so than in the Middle East. So who has them and who has used them in combat? The first combat use of an armed drone came in October 2001, on the first night of the Afghan War against a Taliban convoy. Armed UAVs were initially the preserve of a few technologically advanced nations, with Israel and the United States very much in the lead. Soon a new provider came onto the scene - China, eager to sell its weaponry around the world. The Chinese have boosted the spread of military drones in the Middle East, selling weaponry to at least half a dozen governments. The civilian UAV market has also become more sophisticated, and the technology has been converted into combat drones. While the technology might not be cutting edge, highly capable UAVs can be manufactured by any country with a reasonable industrial base - Iran being a good case in point. And Iran has played a key role in transferring relatively advanced drone technology to several non-state actors, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Middle East is one of the epicentres of the war on terror. It has drawn in technologically advanced players like the United States, Britain and Russia. There is a host of regional rivalries. The most pronounced fault-line is between Israel and the Gulf Arab states on the one hand, and Iran, its allies and proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, on the other. The US has used armed drones extensively in the Middle East, as part of its campaigns against both al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State (IS). Weapons such as Predator and Reaper drones have been used against targets in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. The MQ-9 Reaper is a larger, heavier and more capable aircraft than the Predator, capable of carrying a significantly larger weapons payload with a much longer range. As one of Washington's closest military allies, Britain purchased a number of Reaper systems from the US, and has operated them extensively against targets in both Iraq and Syria. Long-acknowledged as one of the pioneers in UAV technology, Israel is one of the major exporters of unarmed UAVs, accounting for - according to one 2018 study - about 60% of the global market. Among others customers, it has sold surveillance drones to Russia, and has even shot at least one down when it crossed into Israeli territory from Syria. Israel uses a varied fleet of UAVs for intelligence gathering, surveillance and attack missions. Its armed drones include the Heron TP, the Hermes 450 and the Hermes 900. But Israel has been reluctant to export these armed drones. Despite the arms embargo and sanctions, Iran has developed a capacity to build reasonably sophisticated armed UAVs. The Shahed-129 was unveiled in 2012 and has been used to hit IS and targets in Syria and Iraq. The Mohajer 6 has been in production since 2018. But the other aspect of Iran's drone programme is its willingness to sell or transfer its technology to its allies and proxies in the region. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has deployed a fleet of Chinese-supplied Wing Loong 1 UAVs, which have been used against targets in Yemen and in the civil war in Libya. The UAE backs the faction led by General Haftar. Turkish drones have been used in Libya in support of the Government of National Accord. Unable to buy American UAVs, Turkey builds its own, which have been used in strikes against Kurdish targets both inside Turkey and in Syria. Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria have all purchased Chinese UAVs. Houthi rebels are among the most adept UAV users among the non-state actors. They operate a number of systems which, according to UN and other experts, depend heavily on Iranian technology. The Houthis have used the Qasef-1, which a UN panel of experts has determined is virtually identical to an Iranian model. These are effectively \"kamikaze\" drones that are deliberately crashed into their targets. A subsequent UN report highlighted the Houthis' use of a more sophisticated UAV-X drone, sometimes referred to as the Samad-2/3, which is believed to have a small explosive warhead. Lebanese Shia Muslim militant group Hezbollah has operated a small number of what appear to be Iranian-supplied drones. The war in Syria saw the first significant use of drones in a major swarm attack intended to overwhelm air defences. Rebel forces have directed several drones at major Russian military bases in Syria. It's clear that armed drone technology has spread widely. Paradoxically, US reluctance to sell advanced UAVs to its allies has not removed the possibility of drone proliferation, because China has stepped in to market its broadly equivalent technology. Using UAVs to strike at targets has helped to open up a new kind of combat, blurring the line between war and peace. UAVs have offered the potential to strike precise targets with limited side-effects (at least if the intelligence guiding them is right). The armed drone or UAV seemed tailor-made for the so-called war against terror. But it was also tailor-made for the sorts of unequal struggles in the region between technologically advanced and far less advanced players. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1671, "answer_start": 1307, "text": "The Middle East is one of the epicentres of the war on terror. It has drawn in technologically advanced players like the United States, Britain and Russia. There is a host of regional rivalries. The most pronounced fault-line is between Israel and the Gulf Arab states on the one hand, and Iran, its allies and proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, on the other." } ], "id": "841_0", "question": "Who has what?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5406, "answer_start": 4678, "text": "It's clear that armed drone technology has spread widely. Paradoxically, US reluctance to sell advanced UAVs to its allies has not removed the possibility of drone proliferation, because China has stepped in to market its broadly equivalent technology. Using UAVs to strike at targets has helped to open up a new kind of combat, blurring the line between war and peace. UAVs have offered the potential to strike precise targets with limited side-effects (at least if the intelligence guiding them is right). The armed drone or UAV seemed tailor-made for the so-called war against terror. But it was also tailor-made for the sorts of unequal struggles in the region between technologically advanced and far less advanced players." } ], "id": "841_1", "question": "What are the consequences for the region?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Chicago police have released two men arrested in connection with an alleged attack on Empire actor Jussie Smollett. The US TV star needed hospital treatment last month after a suspected racist and homophobic attack. A police spokesperson said on Friday the men were released without charge and were no longer being classified as suspects. Jussie Smollett said he'd been \"forever changed\" by the alleged attack, which took place on 29 January. The 36-year-old actor has said two white men hurling racial and homophobic insults punched him, poured a chemical substance over him, and put a rope around his neck. Earlier, police had dismissed local media reports that the alleged attack was a hoax, and said Mr Smollett continued to be treated as a victim, not a suspect. Who are the men arrested? Two men, Nigerian brothers, were arrested in connection with the incident on Wednesday. They had worked as Empire extras, sometimes going to the gym with the actor, their lawyer said. They had been picked up at Chicago's O'Hare airport, returning from a trip to Nigeria, their lawyer told US media. \"When they first learned about what happened to [Jussie] they were horrified,\" Gloria Schmidt told CBS Chicago. \"This is someone they've worked with, so they don't want to see somebody go through that.\" A police spokesman initially said they were treating the unidentified men as \"potential suspects\" as there was \"probable cause\" that they may have engaged in a crime. No further details were given. On Thursday, police had searched their home. At least one of the brothers worked on Empire, police confirmed. Representatives for Smollett have not yet commented on the latest developments in the case. But recounting the night publicly for the first time, he told US network ABC he had hesitated to call police after it happened because of pride. \"We live in a society where as a gay man you are considered somehow to be weak. And I am not weak. And we as a people are not weak.\" When police came he says he left the rope around his neck and was still wearing clothes that smelled of bleach. \"I went down to where it happened and I walked them through exactly what happened.\" The actor said he had just got back to Chicago that day, and after getting home realised there was no food in the house. He said he had ended up at a Subway sandwich shop getting some food - something people have questioned as strange. He told Good Morning America it was \"ridiculous\" that people thought he would lie about his reasons for being outside at 2am in freezing temperatures. \"Subway is open 24 hours for a reason, so that when you're hungry at night and you ain't got no food, you go to Subway,\" he said. He said he thought he would've been doubted less if he had said his alleged attacker \"was a Muslim, or a Mexican, or someone black\". \"And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now.\" There were claims he had told police his attackers were wearing the Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats that are associated with President Donald Trump. \"I never said that. I didn't need to add anything like that,\" he said. \"I don't need some MAGA hat as the cherry on top of some racist sundae.\" But the attackers did say \"This is MAGA country\", he said. The actor said he thought he had been targeted because he was outspoken about President Trump - who when asked about the attack said \"That's horrible, it doesn't get worse\". \"I don't know what to say to that. I appreciate him not brushing over it,\" Mr Smollett said of Mr Trump's comments. Writers of Empire have stood behind the actor since the attack - and after reports that plans to write him off the show had led to the hoax, they came out in support of him again. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3900, "answer_start": 1605, "text": "Representatives for Smollett have not yet commented on the latest developments in the case. But recounting the night publicly for the first time, he told US network ABC he had hesitated to call police after it happened because of pride. \"We live in a society where as a gay man you are considered somehow to be weak. And I am not weak. And we as a people are not weak.\" When police came he says he left the rope around his neck and was still wearing clothes that smelled of bleach. \"I went down to where it happened and I walked them through exactly what happened.\" The actor said he had just got back to Chicago that day, and after getting home realised there was no food in the house. He said he had ended up at a Subway sandwich shop getting some food - something people have questioned as strange. He told Good Morning America it was \"ridiculous\" that people thought he would lie about his reasons for being outside at 2am in freezing temperatures. \"Subway is open 24 hours for a reason, so that when you're hungry at night and you ain't got no food, you go to Subway,\" he said. He said he thought he would've been doubted less if he had said his alleged attacker \"was a Muslim, or a Mexican, or someone black\". \"And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now.\" There were claims he had told police his attackers were wearing the Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats that are associated with President Donald Trump. \"I never said that. I didn't need to add anything like that,\" he said. \"I don't need some MAGA hat as the cherry on top of some racist sundae.\" But the attackers did say \"This is MAGA country\", he said. The actor said he thought he had been targeted because he was outspoken about President Trump - who when asked about the attack said \"That's horrible, it doesn't get worse\". \"I don't know what to say to that. I appreciate him not brushing over it,\" Mr Smollett said of Mr Trump's comments. Writers of Empire have stood behind the actor since the attack - and after reports that plans to write him off the show had led to the hoax, they came out in support of him again. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here." } ], "id": "842_0", "question": "What does Jussie Smollett say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A rocket engine explosion on a naval test range in northern Russia has killed two people and injured six, the defence ministry told Russian media. The victims of the explosion in Arkhangelsk region were civilian specialists while military and civilian personnel are among the injured. The ministry said radiation levels were normal but the city of Severodvinsk registered a \"brief spike\" in levels. An area of the White Sea nearby has reportedly been closed for a month. But the deputy head of Archangelsk port, Sergei Kozub, told the BBC the closure was planned before the accident. Radiation levels peaked between 11:50 and 12:30 (08:50-09:30 GMT) before falling and normalising by 14:00, the city administration in Severodvinsk said on its website, without reporting how significant the spike had been. It is unclear what could have caused radiation levels to rise. Local people were reportedly urged to take precautions against radiation. No increase in ambulance call-outs was recorded, the administration added. A woman in Severodvinsk named only Alina told Russian news site lenta.ru: \"I work in the hospital where they're bringing the injured. \"They advise everyone to close their windows and drink iodine, 44 drops per glass of water.\" Children in local kindergartens were taken indoors after reports of the blast and parents were advised not to take them outside in the evening, other residents were quoted as saying. The defence ministry did not say officially where or when the blast occurred but unofficial sources say it happened near the village of Nyonoksa, where a navy missile test range is located. Nyonoksa is about 47km (29 miles) west of Severodvinsk, which has a population of nearly 200,000 and is 1,260km from the Russian capital, Moscow. \"During testing of a liquid jet engine an explosion and combustion of the product occurred,\" the ministry said in a statement. \"There have been no harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere, the radiation levels are normal.\" Emergency aircraft were used to airlift the injured. They included defence ministry officials and developer company representatives, who \"had injuries of varying severity\", the statement added. There had been earlier reports of a fire at a military facility near Nyonoksa. Telegram-based media outlet Mash said radiation levels in the village were three times higher than normal. Nyonoksa carries out tests for virtually every missile system used by the Russian navy, including sea-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles. It is the second accident involving Russia's military this week. On Monday, one person was killed and eight others were injured in a blaze at an ammunition dump in Siberia. Flying munitions damaged a school and a kindergarten in the area. More than 9,500 people were evacuated. An investigation is under way into the cause of the incident.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2904, "answer_start": 1428, "text": "The defence ministry did not say officially where or when the blast occurred but unofficial sources say it happened near the village of Nyonoksa, where a navy missile test range is located. Nyonoksa is about 47km (29 miles) west of Severodvinsk, which has a population of nearly 200,000 and is 1,260km from the Russian capital, Moscow. \"During testing of a liquid jet engine an explosion and combustion of the product occurred,\" the ministry said in a statement. \"There have been no harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere, the radiation levels are normal.\" Emergency aircraft were used to airlift the injured. They included defence ministry officials and developer company representatives, who \"had injuries of varying severity\", the statement added. There had been earlier reports of a fire at a military facility near Nyonoksa. Telegram-based media outlet Mash said radiation levels in the village were three times higher than normal. Nyonoksa carries out tests for virtually every missile system used by the Russian navy, including sea-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles. It is the second accident involving Russia's military this week. On Monday, one person was killed and eight others were injured in a blaze at an ammunition dump in Siberia. Flying munitions damaged a school and a kindergarten in the area. More than 9,500 people were evacuated. An investigation is under way into the cause of the incident." } ], "id": "843_0", "question": "What do we know about the explosion?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Donald Trump's policy in Syria has been criticised by one of his party's most senior politicians. In a Washington Post opinion piece, Mitch McConnell said fellow Republican Mr Trump's troop withdrawal order combined with Turkey's Syria assault was a \"strategic nightmare\". On Wednesday the president called the Turkey-Syria border situation \"strategically brilliant\" for the US. Sporadic fighting continues in the region despite a US-brokered pause. Under the deal, Turkey agreed to halt its operation for five days while Kurdish fighters left the area. Turkish forces first launched their assault after Mr Trump withdrew all US troops from the border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's operation aims to push Kurdish fighters - regarded by Turkey as terrorists - away from northernmost Syria and create a \"safe zone\" for resettling up to two million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. Between 160,000 and 300,000 people have reportedly fled their homes since the fighting started, and there are fears that the Turkish operation may lead to the ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population. Concern was also growing about possible war crimes committed by Turkey and allied militias since the offensive began on 9 October. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Turkish forces have used white phosphorus, a chemical weapon, in Syria. In his opinion piece in the Washington Post, Mr McConnell - as Senate majority leader one of the most senior members of Mr Trump's Republican party - attacked the US troop withdrawal as a \"grave strategic mistake\". \"The combination of a US pullback and the escalating Turkish-Kurdish hostilities is creating a strategic nightmare for our country,\" he wrote. Even if the ceasefire held, the Turkish assault and US withdrawal had \"set back\" Washington's fight against the Islamic State (IS) group. Mr McConnell says the US \"retreat\" will allow both Russian and Iranian influence to grow in the region. The Kentucky senator suggests using \"both sticks and carrots to bring Turkey back in line while respecting its own legitimate security concerns\", as well as maintaining a \"limited military presence\" in Syria and work closely with allies in the Middle East \"threatened by this chaos\". Mr McConnell did not mention Donald Trump by name in the article. On Wednesday, President Trump called the situation in the region \"strategically brilliant\" for the US. \"They have a problem at a border,\" he told reporters at the White House. \"It's not our border. We shouldn't be losing lives over it.\" Mr McConnell is the latest Republican to criticise the president over Syria. Senator Lindsey Graham - normally a staunch ally of Mr Trump's - has vociferously opposed the administration's troop withdrawal. \"A buffer zone is acceptable to the Kurds but a military occupation that displaces hundreds of thousands is not a safe zone,\" Mr Graham said on Thursday after speaking to Kurdish forces. \"It is ethnic cleansing.\" Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), tweeted on Friday morning that Turkey was breaking the ceasefire near the flashpoint border town of Ras al-Ain. \"Despite the agreement to halt the fighting, air and artillery attacks continue to target the positions of fighters, civilian settlements and the hospital,\" he wrote. President Erdogan dismissed reports of continuing clashes on Friday as \"misinformation\" but international news media recorded explosions in Ras al-Ain during the morning. The Kurds had agreed to cease firing in the area between Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, where combat had been fierce, but they said other areas had not been discussed. The Turkish-declared pause followed talks in Ankara between Mr Erdogan and Mr Trump's Vice-President, Mike Pence, on Thursday. All fighting was to halt for five days, or 120 hours, and the US was to help facilitate the withdrawal of Kurdish-led troops from Turkey's \"safe zone\" along the border. Mr Erdogan said on Friday that Syrian Kurdish fighters had begun to withdraw but Turkish forces would stay in north-eastern Syria to make sure they \"truly leave\". The Turkish president also told reporters that his forces would restart their assault \"the minute 120 hours are over\" if Kurdish fighters have not left the area by the end of the ceasefire. Nearly 500 people have been killed since the offensive started, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group. They included 224 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and 183 Turkish-backed rebels, but also 72 civilians, according to the SOHR. The dead reportedly included at least 20 Turkish civilians. Reports in some newspapers alleged that Turkish forces used white phosphorus in Syria. People exposed to the chemical are badly burned, as moisture on the body makes the chemical burn more vigorously while the heavy smoke it emits damages the lungs. Turkey insisted it did not have the weapon in its arsenal, but some Kurds forces accused militias fighting alongside Turkish forces of deploying it. A spokesman for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Friday the group had \"not yet determined the credibility of these allegations\", but was aware of the situation and collecting information. Amnesty International says it has gathered \"damning evidence of war crimes and other violations by Turkish forces and their allies\". It accuses them of carrying out summary executions and attacking civilians indiscriminately. Hevrin Khalaf, a Kurdish female politician killed on 12 October, was dragged out of her car, beaten and shot dead by Turkish-backed Syrian fighters, Amnesty says. In other attacks, children were killed by Turkish air strikes or mortars, Amnesty says. Turkish-backed fighters have denied responsibility for Khalaf's death. President Erdogan insists his operation is aimed at bringing peace to the region and should be welcomed internationally.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2937, "answer_start": 1332, "text": "In his opinion piece in the Washington Post, Mr McConnell - as Senate majority leader one of the most senior members of Mr Trump's Republican party - attacked the US troop withdrawal as a \"grave strategic mistake\". \"The combination of a US pullback and the escalating Turkish-Kurdish hostilities is creating a strategic nightmare for our country,\" he wrote. Even if the ceasefire held, the Turkish assault and US withdrawal had \"set back\" Washington's fight against the Islamic State (IS) group. Mr McConnell says the US \"retreat\" will allow both Russian and Iranian influence to grow in the region. The Kentucky senator suggests using \"both sticks and carrots to bring Turkey back in line while respecting its own legitimate security concerns\", as well as maintaining a \"limited military presence\" in Syria and work closely with allies in the Middle East \"threatened by this chaos\". Mr McConnell did not mention Donald Trump by name in the article. On Wednesday, President Trump called the situation in the region \"strategically brilliant\" for the US. \"They have a problem at a border,\" he told reporters at the White House. \"It's not our border. We shouldn't be losing lives over it.\" Mr McConnell is the latest Republican to criticise the president over Syria. Senator Lindsey Graham - normally a staunch ally of Mr Trump's - has vociferously opposed the administration's troop withdrawal. \"A buffer zone is acceptable to the Kurds but a military occupation that displaces hundreds of thousands is not a safe zone,\" Mr Graham said on Thursday after speaking to Kurdish forces. \"It is ethnic cleansing.\"" } ], "id": "844_0", "question": "What did Mitch McConnell say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4277, "answer_start": 2938, "text": "Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), tweeted on Friday morning that Turkey was breaking the ceasefire near the flashpoint border town of Ras al-Ain. \"Despite the agreement to halt the fighting, air and artillery attacks continue to target the positions of fighters, civilian settlements and the hospital,\" he wrote. President Erdogan dismissed reports of continuing clashes on Friday as \"misinformation\" but international news media recorded explosions in Ras al-Ain during the morning. The Kurds had agreed to cease firing in the area between Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, where combat had been fierce, but they said other areas had not been discussed. The Turkish-declared pause followed talks in Ankara between Mr Erdogan and Mr Trump's Vice-President, Mike Pence, on Thursday. All fighting was to halt for five days, or 120 hours, and the US was to help facilitate the withdrawal of Kurdish-led troops from Turkey's \"safe zone\" along the border. Mr Erdogan said on Friday that Syrian Kurdish fighters had begun to withdraw but Turkish forces would stay in north-eastern Syria to make sure they \"truly leave\". The Turkish president also told reporters that his forces would restart their assault \"the minute 120 hours are over\" if Kurdish fighters have not left the area by the end of the ceasefire." } ], "id": "844_1", "question": "What's happening on the ground?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5939, "answer_start": 4278, "text": "Nearly 500 people have been killed since the offensive started, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group. They included 224 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and 183 Turkish-backed rebels, but also 72 civilians, according to the SOHR. The dead reportedly included at least 20 Turkish civilians. Reports in some newspapers alleged that Turkish forces used white phosphorus in Syria. People exposed to the chemical are badly burned, as moisture on the body makes the chemical burn more vigorously while the heavy smoke it emits damages the lungs. Turkey insisted it did not have the weapon in its arsenal, but some Kurds forces accused militias fighting alongside Turkish forces of deploying it. A spokesman for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Friday the group had \"not yet determined the credibility of these allegations\", but was aware of the situation and collecting information. Amnesty International says it has gathered \"damning evidence of war crimes and other violations by Turkish forces and their allies\". It accuses them of carrying out summary executions and attacking civilians indiscriminately. Hevrin Khalaf, a Kurdish female politician killed on 12 October, was dragged out of her car, beaten and shot dead by Turkish-backed Syrian fighters, Amnesty says. In other attacks, children were killed by Turkish air strikes or mortars, Amnesty says. Turkish-backed fighters have denied responsibility for Khalaf's death. President Erdogan insists his operation is aimed at bringing peace to the region and should be welcomed internationally." } ], "id": "844_2", "question": "Were war crimes committed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "G7 nations have failed to agree on a proposal by Britain for sanctions against Russia in the wake of a deadly chemical attack they say was carried out by Moscow's ally, Syria. Italy's foreign minister said the group did not want to back Russia into a corner and preferred dialogue. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has moved on from the G7 meeting in Italy and has arrived in Moscow for talks. He insisted Syria's president could not play a part in the country's future. The G7 meeting in the Italian city of Lucca followed last week's chemical attack on the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun that left 89 people dead. The Turkish health ministry on Tuesday confirmed that the nerve agent, sarin, had been used. Syria denied the attack but the US then carried out a retaliatory strike, firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase. The two-day meeting of foreign ministers was aimed at hammering out a unified approach to Syria before Mr Tillerson headed to Moscow. But divisions arose as UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson proposed sanctions against Syrian and Russian military figures over the chemical attack. BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says Mr Johnson had hoped for some form of explicit support, but the final G7 communique does not mention sanctions. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said ministers wanted to engage with Russia. \"We think the Russians have the leverage that is needed to put pressure on [President Bashar al-Assad] and to get him to observe the commitments with regard to the ceasefire,\" he said. Mr Johnson denied he had suffered a defeat, saying there was support for sanctions if further evidence of the chemical attack were gathered. One thing that did appear to unite the group was the future of Mr Assad. Mr Tillerson summed it up, saying: \"It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end.\" He also won support over the retaliatory strike, which he called \"necessary as a matter of US national security interest\". \"We do not want the regime's uncontrolled stockpile of chemical weapons to fall into the hands of Isis [so-called Islamic State] or other terrorist groups who could and want to attack the United States or our allies,\" he said. The UK's ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, later said he was circulating a new draft UN resolution, jointly with France and the US, demanding an investigation into the chemical attack that required \"full co-operation\". Mr Tillerson will meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday but it is unclear whether he will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. There were some conciliatory messages ahead of his arrival, with Moscow hoping for \"constructive co-operation\" with Washington. Mr Putin hinted at this himself, saying that although Russia and Syria were being portrayed as the \"common enemy\" of the West, \"we are ready to tolerate this\", and he added: \"We hope that this will nonetheless lead to some kind of positive co-operation trend.\" He also called for the UN to hold an independent investigation into the chemical attack. Reports on Monday had quoted a senior US official as saying that the Russians knew of the chemical attack because a drone had been flying over a hospital in Khan Sheikhoun as victims sought help. Any such assertion on this trip is likely to strain ties further. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says experience shows that Russia does not take well to threats or ultimatums. If Mr Tillerson thinks he can weaken Moscow's support for President Assad, he may need to re-think, our correspondent says, adding that the Syrian president is Russia's key military ally in the Middle East. A taste of this came with Mr Putin's comment on Tuesday that he had heard that \"fake chemical attacks\" were being prepared. He said: \"We have information from various sources that such provocations - I cannot call them otherwise - are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern outskirts of Damascus, where they are again planning to throw some kind of substance and accuse Syrian official authorities of using it.\" A White House official, quoted by Reuters on Tuesday, said the US was confident that the Khan Sheikhoun attack was not carried out by rebels or \"terrorists\" and added that Russia had shown a clear pattern of trying to shift blame from the Syrian government. Mr Putin said the Western response to Khan Sheikhoun reminded him of 2003, \"when US envoys to the UN Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq. We have seen it all already\". He also said he had heard that the US was planning more missile strikes. He gave no further information. Russia also announced that the Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers would be in Moscow later in the week for talks.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2460, "answer_start": 843, "text": "The two-day meeting of foreign ministers was aimed at hammering out a unified approach to Syria before Mr Tillerson headed to Moscow. But divisions arose as UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson proposed sanctions against Syrian and Russian military figures over the chemical attack. BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says Mr Johnson had hoped for some form of explicit support, but the final G7 communique does not mention sanctions. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said ministers wanted to engage with Russia. \"We think the Russians have the leverage that is needed to put pressure on [President Bashar al-Assad] and to get him to observe the commitments with regard to the ceasefire,\" he said. Mr Johnson denied he had suffered a defeat, saying there was support for sanctions if further evidence of the chemical attack were gathered. One thing that did appear to unite the group was the future of Mr Assad. Mr Tillerson summed it up, saying: \"It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end.\" He also won support over the retaliatory strike, which he called \"necessary as a matter of US national security interest\". \"We do not want the regime's uncontrolled stockpile of chemical weapons to fall into the hands of Isis [so-called Islamic State] or other terrorist groups who could and want to attack the United States or our allies,\" he said. The UK's ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, later said he was circulating a new draft UN resolution, jointly with France and the US, demanding an investigation into the chemical attack that required \"full co-operation\"." } ], "id": "845_0", "question": "What happened at the G7?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4807, "answer_start": 2461, "text": "Mr Tillerson will meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday but it is unclear whether he will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. There were some conciliatory messages ahead of his arrival, with Moscow hoping for \"constructive co-operation\" with Washington. Mr Putin hinted at this himself, saying that although Russia and Syria were being portrayed as the \"common enemy\" of the West, \"we are ready to tolerate this\", and he added: \"We hope that this will nonetheless lead to some kind of positive co-operation trend.\" He also called for the UN to hold an independent investigation into the chemical attack. Reports on Monday had quoted a senior US official as saying that the Russians knew of the chemical attack because a drone had been flying over a hospital in Khan Sheikhoun as victims sought help. Any such assertion on this trip is likely to strain ties further. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says experience shows that Russia does not take well to threats or ultimatums. If Mr Tillerson thinks he can weaken Moscow's support for President Assad, he may need to re-think, our correspondent says, adding that the Syrian president is Russia's key military ally in the Middle East. A taste of this came with Mr Putin's comment on Tuesday that he had heard that \"fake chemical attacks\" were being prepared. He said: \"We have information from various sources that such provocations - I cannot call them otherwise - are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern outskirts of Damascus, where they are again planning to throw some kind of substance and accuse Syrian official authorities of using it.\" A White House official, quoted by Reuters on Tuesday, said the US was confident that the Khan Sheikhoun attack was not carried out by rebels or \"terrorists\" and added that Russia had shown a clear pattern of trying to shift blame from the Syrian government. Mr Putin said the Western response to Khan Sheikhoun reminded him of 2003, \"when US envoys to the UN Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq. We have seen it all already\". He also said he had heard that the US was planning more missile strikes. He gave no further information. Russia also announced that the Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers would be in Moscow later in the week for talks." } ], "id": "845_1", "question": "What will Mr Tillerson face in Moscow?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Religious groups have condemned a bill in Iceland's parliament that would ban circumcision for non-medical reasons. The draft law would impose a six-year prison term on anyone guilty of \"removing part or all of the [child's] sexual organs\", arguing the practice violates the child's rights. Jewish and Muslim leaders however have called the bill an attack on religious freedom. Iceland would be the first European country to ban the procedure. The country is thought to have roughly 250 Jewish citizens and around 1,500 Muslim citizens. MP Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir of the Progressive Party, who introduced the bill at the start of the month, said: \"We are talking about children's rights, not about freedom of belief. \"Everyone has the right to believe in what they want, but the rights of children come above the right to believe.\" Iceland passed a law in 2005 banning female genital mutilation, and supporters of this move have compared it to that law. The latest bill (in Icelandic) says circumcision \"involves permanent interventions in a child's body that can cause severe pain\". If it passes its first reading, the draft law will go to a committee stage before it can come into effect. The Nordic Jewish Communities issued a statement condemning the ban on \"the most central rite\" in their faith. \"You are about to attack Judaism in a way that concerns Jews all over the world,\" the open letter reads. Jewish campaign group Milah UK stated that comparisons with female genital mutilation are unwarranted, given that in the case of male circumcision there is \"no recognised long-term negative impact on the child\". Imam Ahmad Seddeeq at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Iceland also criticised the move. \"It's... part of our faith,\" he said.\" It's something that touches our religion and I believe that this is... a contravention [of] religious freedom.\" The Bishop of Reykjavik, Agnes M. Sigurdardottir, warned Jewish and Muslim people could feel \"unwelcome\" in Iceland. \"The danger that arises, if this bill becomes law, is that Judaism and Islam will become criminalised religions,\" she said. \"We must avoid all such forms of extremism.\" By Michelle Roberts, BBC News Online health editor Although it is a relatively simple medical procedure, circumcision is not entirely risk free. Doctors may recommend that a man or boy is circumcised if he has an unusually tight foreskin, known as phimosis, or suffers from recurrent infections of the foreskin and penis, known as balanitis. There is also some evidence that men who are circumcised have a lower risk of contracting HIV from HIV-positive female partners. It is not clear if circumcision reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted infections too, but studies suggest it may lower the chance of catching genital warts caused by a family of viruses called HPV. The main risks of the surgery are bleeding and infection. In the UK, the chance of these occurring is between one in 10 and one in 50, according to the NHS website, although that is a figure for older boys and men, not the newborns who would be most affected by the Icelandic ban. Circumcision is legal throughout Europe, although the practice is becoming more controversial. A court in Germany passed a local ban in 2012 after the circumcision of a four-year-old Muslim boy led to complications, with the judge saying it \"permanently and irreparably changed\" the body. However, the German government later that year clarified the act is legal provided it is performed by trained practitioners. The following year, the Council of Europe recommended countries take steps to ensure good medical and sanitary practices when performing a circumcision. And in the UK in 2016, a court ruled that a Muslim father could not have his sons circumcised after their mother disagreed.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1191, "answer_start": 537, "text": "MP Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir of the Progressive Party, who introduced the bill at the start of the month, said: \"We are talking about children's rights, not about freedom of belief. \"Everyone has the right to believe in what they want, but the rights of children come above the right to believe.\" Iceland passed a law in 2005 banning female genital mutilation, and supporters of this move have compared it to that law. The latest bill (in Icelandic) says circumcision \"involves permanent interventions in a child's body that can cause severe pain\". If it passes its first reading, the draft law will go to a committee stage before it can come into effect." } ], "id": "846_0", "question": "Why is the bill being introduced?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2143, "answer_start": 1192, "text": "The Nordic Jewish Communities issued a statement condemning the ban on \"the most central rite\" in their faith. \"You are about to attack Judaism in a way that concerns Jews all over the world,\" the open letter reads. Jewish campaign group Milah UK stated that comparisons with female genital mutilation are unwarranted, given that in the case of male circumcision there is \"no recognised long-term negative impact on the child\". Imam Ahmad Seddeeq at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Iceland also criticised the move. \"It's... part of our faith,\" he said.\" It's something that touches our religion and I believe that this is... a contravention [of] religious freedom.\" The Bishop of Reykjavik, Agnes M. Sigurdardottir, warned Jewish and Muslim people could feel \"unwelcome\" in Iceland. \"The danger that arises, if this bill becomes law, is that Judaism and Islam will become criminalised religions,\" she said. \"We must avoid all such forms of extremism.\"" } ], "id": "846_1", "question": "What do religious groups say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3102, "answer_start": 2144, "text": "By Michelle Roberts, BBC News Online health editor Although it is a relatively simple medical procedure, circumcision is not entirely risk free. Doctors may recommend that a man or boy is circumcised if he has an unusually tight foreskin, known as phimosis, or suffers from recurrent infections of the foreskin and penis, known as balanitis. There is also some evidence that men who are circumcised have a lower risk of contracting HIV from HIV-positive female partners. It is not clear if circumcision reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted infections too, but studies suggest it may lower the chance of catching genital warts caused by a family of viruses called HPV. The main risks of the surgery are bleeding and infection. In the UK, the chance of these occurring is between one in 10 and one in 50, according to the NHS website, although that is a figure for older boys and men, not the newborns who would be most affected by the Icelandic ban." } ], "id": "846_2", "question": "Is circumcision safe?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3793, "answer_start": 3103, "text": "Circumcision is legal throughout Europe, although the practice is becoming more controversial. A court in Germany passed a local ban in 2012 after the circumcision of a four-year-old Muslim boy led to complications, with the judge saying it \"permanently and irreparably changed\" the body. However, the German government later that year clarified the act is legal provided it is performed by trained practitioners. The following year, the Council of Europe recommended countries take steps to ensure good medical and sanitary practices when performing a circumcision. And in the UK in 2016, a court ruled that a Muslim father could not have his sons circumcised after their mother disagreed." } ], "id": "846_3", "question": "How do other countries compare?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has warned that oil prices may soar if the world does not act to deter Iran. He said failure to act could embolden Iran and lead to war, which he said would ruin the global economy. The prince was speaking after an attack on oil facilities which he blames on Tehran. Iran said the remarks would \"bring [the Saudis] nothing but shame\". Mohammed bin Salman also said he accepted some responsibility for journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing. But, speaking to CBS News, he denied personally ordering it. The prince, who is considered the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, is suspected of personally targeting Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist critical of the government in Riyadh. Mr Khashoggi was killed in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey on 2 October 2018. In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes news programme on Sunday, he said: \"I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it [the killing] was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.\" However, he denied ordering the killing of Mr Khashoggi directly, or having knowledge of it at the time. Saudi authorities have since blamed a \"rogue\" operation for his murder and put 11 men on trial. You may also be interested in: The prince also appeared to offer talks for a political solution to the civil war in Yemen, where government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition are fighting Houthi rebels supported by Iran. Iran is Saudi Arabia's regional rival and an opponent of the US, which pulled out of a treaty aimed at limiting Tehran's nuclear programme after Mr Trump took power. US-Iran tensions have risen markedly this year, with the US blaming Iran on attacks on six oil tankers in the Gulf between May and July. Tehran rejects the accusations. There are subtle clues in this interview as to why the Saudi response to the 14 September drone and missile attacks has been so restrained. Note that the crown prince warns that a war with Iran would be catastrophic, not just for his country but for the global economy. Four years ago, when MBS committed his forces to the disastrous war in Yemen, his response might have been bolder. But the Yemen war has not gone as the Saudis intended while their enemy, the Houthi rebels, are launching ever increasing numbers of drones and missiles across the common border. The recent attacks on the Saudi oil industry, widely blamed on Iran, did real damage. So the Saudis now know just how vulnerable their critical infrastructure is to any Iranian strike. On the Khashoggi murder, the crown prince's \"taking of responsibility\" is a belated acknowledgment of how much unease there still is about this incident in the West. But that, of course, is not the same as admitting any involvement in it, which he and his government still deny. Iran has denied any involvement in the attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities earlier in September, which knocked out about 5% of global oil supply and sent oil prices soaring. But Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the Saudi throne, said: \"If the world does not take a strong and firm action to deter Iran, we will see further escalations that will threaten world interests. \"Oil supplies will be disrupted and oil prices will jump to unimaginably high numbers that we haven't seen in our lifetimes.\" He said the Middle East region \"represents about 30% of the world's energy supplies, about 20% of global trade passages, about 4% of the world GDP\". \"Imagine all of these three things stop. This means a total collapse of the global economy, and not just Saudi Arabia or the Middle East countries,\" the prince said. He blamed Iranian \"stupidity\" for the attacks, saying there was no strategic goal. Saudi Arabia says 18 drones and seven cruise missiles were fired on the country's two oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have said they were behind the attacks. A week after the facilities were hit, the US pledged to send troops to Saudi Arabia to help defend against further attacks. The prince urged Iran to cease its support for Houthi rebels, saying it would be \"much easier\" to bring the war to an end. \"Today we open all initiatives for a political solution in Yemen,\" he said. \"We hope this happens today rather than tomorrow.\" He welcomed a Houthi ceasefire, announced several days ago, as a \"positive step\" towards political dialogue. The civil war has triggered the world's worst humanitarian disaster, with 80% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance or protection. More than 70,000 people are believed to have died since 2016 as a result of the conflict, according to UN estimates. The crown prince said he would \"personally follow up\" on allegations that women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul was tortured in jail. Ms Hathloul and other activists have been in custody for more than a year, despite organising a successful campaign for rights such as that of a woman to drive and travel without a man's permission. But the prince said the decision whether or not to release the activists lay not with him, but with the public prosecutor. Asked why they had been jailed, he said laws had to be respected, even though there were some he disagreed with.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4048, "answer_start": 2810, "text": "Iran has denied any involvement in the attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities earlier in September, which knocked out about 5% of global oil supply and sent oil prices soaring. But Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the Saudi throne, said: \"If the world does not take a strong and firm action to deter Iran, we will see further escalations that will threaten world interests. \"Oil supplies will be disrupted and oil prices will jump to unimaginably high numbers that we haven't seen in our lifetimes.\" He said the Middle East region \"represents about 30% of the world's energy supplies, about 20% of global trade passages, about 4% of the world GDP\". \"Imagine all of these three things stop. This means a total collapse of the global economy, and not just Saudi Arabia or the Middle East countries,\" the prince said. He blamed Iranian \"stupidity\" for the attacks, saying there was no strategic goal. Saudi Arabia says 18 drones and seven cruise missiles were fired on the country's two oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have said they were behind the attacks. A week after the facilities were hit, the US pledged to send troops to Saudi Arabia to help defend against further attacks." } ], "id": "847_0", "question": "What about the crown prince's oil warning?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4670, "answer_start": 4049, "text": "The prince urged Iran to cease its support for Houthi rebels, saying it would be \"much easier\" to bring the war to an end. \"Today we open all initiatives for a political solution in Yemen,\" he said. \"We hope this happens today rather than tomorrow.\" He welcomed a Houthi ceasefire, announced several days ago, as a \"positive step\" towards political dialogue. The civil war has triggered the world's worst humanitarian disaster, with 80% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance or protection. More than 70,000 people are believed to have died since 2016 as a result of the conflict, according to UN estimates." } ], "id": "847_1", "question": "What did he say about Yemen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5245, "answer_start": 4671, "text": "The crown prince said he would \"personally follow up\" on allegations that women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul was tortured in jail. Ms Hathloul and other activists have been in custody for more than a year, despite organising a successful campaign for rights such as that of a woman to drive and travel without a man's permission. But the prince said the decision whether or not to release the activists lay not with him, but with the public prosecutor. Asked why they had been jailed, he said laws had to be respected, even though there were some he disagreed with." } ], "id": "847_2", "question": "What about jailed women's rights activists?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Danish inventor Peter Madsen has denied murdering Swedish journalist Kim Wall on his homemade submarine, saying she died in an accident. At his trial in Copenhagen, Mr Madsen said the 30-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning when the vessel filled with toxic exhaust fumes. But he has admitted dismembering Ms Wall's body and disposing of it at sea. When asked why he did so, he told the court: \"I don't see how that mattered at that time, as she was dead.\" Ms Wall's remains were found by a passing cyclist, 11 days after she interviewed the inventor last August. Mr Madsen is charged with murder, dismemberment and aggravated sexual assault. He faces a life sentence if convicted, which typically means 15 to 17 years in prison without parole. Around 40 witnesses are set to give evidence, as prosecutors attempt to shed light on the circumstances of Ms Wall's death. Kim Wall, a freelance journalist, boarded Peter Madsen's UC3 Nautilus on the evening of 10 August 2017 to interview him for a story. She had left her boyfriend at a going-away party the couple were having ahead of a planned move to Beijing. When she did not return, her boyfriend alerted the police. Peter Madsen was rescued the next morning as his vessel was sinking. He initially told police that he had dropped off the reporter before the vessel began to go down. But he later said she died when a heavy hatch on the submarine fell on her head. Eleven days later, a cyclist found the remains of the journalist's headless torso on a nearby beach. Weeks later, police divers discovered other parts of her body in plastic bags weighed down with metal. The 47-year-old Dane - the skipper and designer of the Nautilus, a 17m- (56ft) long privately-owned submarine - changed his version of events several times. After saying a hatch fell on her head, he maintained instead that she had been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning inside the submarine while he was up on deck. He initially denied cutting up her body, but then admitted dismembering it and dumping the body parts in the sea. Peter Madsen appeared calm on Thursday, wearing a black T-shirt, jeans and black glasses. Members of the Wall family were also in the session. His lawyer Betina Hald Engmark told the court he denied murder but admitted \"violating the law about indecent handling of a corpse\". Explaining his version of events, Mr Madsen said the air pressure on board his submarine suddenly dropped while he was standing on the deck and Ms Wall was in the engine room. He said the vessel began to fill with exhaust fumes but he was unable to open the hatch and enter. \"When I finally manage to open the hatch, a warm cloud hits my face. I find her lifeless on the floor, and I squat next to her and try to wake her up, slapping her cheeks,\" he said. Asked why he had changed his story several times, Mr Madsen said that he had \"wanted to spare her family\" the \"gruesome details.\" Maddy Savage, BBC News, Copenhagen This is a high-profile trial being covered by more than 100 journalists from around the world, with some queuing for hours in the snow to secure a good view from the court or the press room, where reporters are asked to remain silent and banned from making phone calls. During breaks, Danish journalists here have told me Peter Madsen's black T-shirt and jeans combination isn't unusual attire in courtrooms in Denmark, where casual business dress is common. What fluent Danish speakers here say is significant is that while he is able to speak at length about his own actions and his passion for all things nautical, his answers about what specifically happened to Kim Wall on the night she died have been shorter and less clear. He has continued to deny killing the Swedish journalist, repeatedly describing her death as \"terrible\". During the session, the prosecution said: - It was not clear how Kim Wall died but there was the suspicion that Mr Madsen had \"psychopathic tendencies\" - Pipes and straps discovered in the same bag as the journalist's clothes matched similar items found in his workshop - Blood on his nose was the journalist's but there was no evidence of his sperm on her body - Films found on his computer showed real women being tortured and mutilated The trial is expected to last 12 days over seven weeks, with a verdict expected on 25 April. The journalist was born in 1987 and grew up in a close-knit community in the small town of Trelleborg in southern Sweden, just across the strait dividing Denmark from Sweden. She studied international relations at London School of Economics and went on to gain a place on the rigorous masters programme of Columbia University's School of Journalism - described as the \"Oxbridge of journalism\". She had a long career in journalism, having previously reported from North Korea, the South Pacific, Uganda and Haiti, writing for the New York Times, Guardian, Vice and the South China Morning Post.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2058, "answer_start": 875, "text": "Kim Wall, a freelance journalist, boarded Peter Madsen's UC3 Nautilus on the evening of 10 August 2017 to interview him for a story. She had left her boyfriend at a going-away party the couple were having ahead of a planned move to Beijing. When she did not return, her boyfriend alerted the police. Peter Madsen was rescued the next morning as his vessel was sinking. He initially told police that he had dropped off the reporter before the vessel began to go down. But he later said she died when a heavy hatch on the submarine fell on her head. Eleven days later, a cyclist found the remains of the journalist's headless torso on a nearby beach. Weeks later, police divers discovered other parts of her body in plastic bags weighed down with metal. The 47-year-old Dane - the skipper and designer of the Nautilus, a 17m- (56ft) long privately-owned submarine - changed his version of events several times. After saying a hatch fell on her head, he maintained instead that she had been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning inside the submarine while he was up on deck. He initially denied cutting up her body, but then admitted dismembering it and dumping the body parts in the sea." } ], "id": "848_0", "question": "What do we know about what happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2921, "answer_start": 2059, "text": "Peter Madsen appeared calm on Thursday, wearing a black T-shirt, jeans and black glasses. Members of the Wall family were also in the session. His lawyer Betina Hald Engmark told the court he denied murder but admitted \"violating the law about indecent handling of a corpse\". Explaining his version of events, Mr Madsen said the air pressure on board his submarine suddenly dropped while he was standing on the deck and Ms Wall was in the engine room. He said the vessel began to fill with exhaust fumes but he was unable to open the hatch and enter. \"When I finally manage to open the hatch, a warm cloud hits my face. I find her lifeless on the floor, and I squat next to her and try to wake her up, slapping her cheeks,\" he said. Asked why he had changed his story several times, Mr Madsen said that he had \"wanted to spare her family\" the \"gruesome details.\"" } ], "id": "848_1", "question": "What was said in court?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4917, "answer_start": 4324, "text": "The journalist was born in 1987 and grew up in a close-knit community in the small town of Trelleborg in southern Sweden, just across the strait dividing Denmark from Sweden. She studied international relations at London School of Economics and went on to gain a place on the rigorous masters programme of Columbia University's School of Journalism - described as the \"Oxbridge of journalism\". She had a long career in journalism, having previously reported from North Korea, the South Pacific, Uganda and Haiti, writing for the New York Times, Guardian, Vice and the South China Morning Post." } ], "id": "848_2", "question": "Who was Kim Wall?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A group of protesters in Iraq have set fire to Iran's consulate in the southern city of Najaf amid ongoing anti-government demonstrations. Protesters chanted \"Iran out of Iraq\" as flames engulfed the building. Reports say staff at the consulate managed to flee just before protesters broke in. This is the second attack on an Iranian consulate in Iraq this month after the office in the Shia holy city of Karbala was targeted three weeks ago. At least 344 people have been killed in nearly two months of unrest. People are demanding an end to corruption, more jobs and better public services in the demonstrations, which have mostly affected southern Iraq and the capital Baghdad. Demonstrators accuse Iran of interfering in Iraq's internal affairs and propping up the government. Protesters stormed the consulate and set it alight, despite police attempts to keep them at bay. Iran, which backs the government and a number of powerful local Shia Muslim militias, had previously urged protesters to seek changes within the \"framework of legal structures\". It has also accused the West of \"spreading turmoil\" in Iraq. Elsewhere, security forces shot dead two people in Karbala on Tuesday night and two in Baghdad on Wednesday, while a fifth person was killed after security forces opened fire in Basra, Reuters reported. Protesters blocked government employees from entering work in Basra with slabs of concrete painted as mock coffins of relatives lost in the uprising, an eyewitness said. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi took office just over a year ago, promising reforms that have not materialised. On 1 October, young Iraqis angered by his failure to tackle high unemployment, endemic corruption and poor public services took to the streets of Baghdad for the first time. The protests escalated and spread across the country after security personnel responded with deadly force. After the first wave of protests, which lasted six days and saw 149 civilians killed, Mr Abdul Mahdi promised to reshuffle his cabinet, cut the salaries of high-ranking officials, and announced schemes to reduce youth unemployment. But the protesters said their demands had not been met and returned to the streets in late October. President Barham Saleh has said Mr Abdul Mahdi will resign if parties can agree on a replacement.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1489, "answer_start": 781, "text": "Protesters stormed the consulate and set it alight, despite police attempts to keep them at bay. Iran, which backs the government and a number of powerful local Shia Muslim militias, had previously urged protesters to seek changes within the \"framework of legal structures\". It has also accused the West of \"spreading turmoil\" in Iraq. Elsewhere, security forces shot dead two people in Karbala on Tuesday night and two in Baghdad on Wednesday, while a fifth person was killed after security forces opened fire in Basra, Reuters reported. Protesters blocked government employees from entering work in Basra with slabs of concrete painted as mock coffins of relatives lost in the uprising, an eyewitness said." } ], "id": "849_0", "question": "What's the latest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2312, "answer_start": 1490, "text": "Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi took office just over a year ago, promising reforms that have not materialised. On 1 October, young Iraqis angered by his failure to tackle high unemployment, endemic corruption and poor public services took to the streets of Baghdad for the first time. The protests escalated and spread across the country after security personnel responded with deadly force. After the first wave of protests, which lasted six days and saw 149 civilians killed, Mr Abdul Mahdi promised to reshuffle his cabinet, cut the salaries of high-ranking officials, and announced schemes to reduce youth unemployment. But the protesters said their demands had not been met and returned to the streets in late October. President Barham Saleh has said Mr Abdul Mahdi will resign if parties can agree on a replacement." } ], "id": "849_1", "question": "Why are people protesting?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "In advocating a case for extending UK air strikes into Syria, Prime Minister David Cameron outlined a strategy of targeting so-called Islamic State (IS), paralleled with a diplomatic track in which the main opposition groupings sat down with the Syrian regime and worked out a transition of power. As part of making the case for a robust diplomatic process, the prime minister noted that as many as 70,000 fighters who did not belong to extremist groups were still committed to fighting President Bashar al-Assad. The figure has raised eyebrows: there was no clarity offered as to who these fighters are, where they are fighting, and what sort of relationships these moderate groups have to al-Qaeda, and indeed IS. Many politicians and commentators have outright dismissed the figure as fantastical, feeding into the Russian propagandists' line that there are no \"moderate\" rebels left in Syria. In the past week, a number of analysts have taken up the challenge to identify these rebels. Officials say the source for the 70,000 figure is the UK's Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), drawing on assessments by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK intelligence agencies and open sources. The figure, the officials add, refers to Syrian rebels who fulfil two basic criteria: Frank Gardner: Is PM right about the Syrian 'moderates'? Charles Lister of the Brookings Institute puts the number of fighters in strategically influential groups at around 65,000 - with 10,000 fighters in smaller groups. They are spread over six identifiable fronts, stretching along a fairly narrow strip of territory from the northern city of Aleppo, down through the capital Damascus and into the southern borderlands with Jordan. But while it may be possible to identify 65,000-75,000 personnel in brigades that fight both Assad and IS, the problem is that these groups of fighters, particularly in the north of the country, are not powerful enough to take on al-Qaeda or IS by themselves, or in many cases break their current alliances/ceasefires with them. For example, Jaysh al-Fatah - a coalition of seven different groups operating around the northern cities of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama - is comprised of Salafist jihadists from the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, and the equally unpalatable Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa. Yet two other groupings in the alliance, Ajnad al-Sham and Faylaq al-Sham, display little such sentiments. The problem is that numerically within Jaysh al-Fatah the more moderate groups do not stand a chance against the hardliners. In eastern Damascus and the southern part of the country, the picture is clearer. Militias with Jordanian and Saudi backing have fared well against Mr Assad's forces, and have been ruthless whenever they have come into contact with IS. In July, Jaysh al-Islam released a video of its fighters shooting dead rivals from IS in a style that mimicked those produced by the jihadist group to announce the killing of regime soldiers and Western hostages. Although hardly a palatable group in and of itself, Jaysh al-Islam does at least represent Syrians that live in that area, and is explicitly not jihadist. But it is important to note that these rebels do not form a cohesive military force, able to simultaneously launch co-ordinated attacks in the manner of a standing army. Rather, they form the backbone of piecemeal opposition, looking to establish social and political control in various different guises, and co-ordinating across a number of fronts in which they vary dramatically in terms of operational fighting strength. Regardless of the lack of clarity, the 70,000 figure does not include the Kurds. Their Popular Protection Units (YPG) form part of a larger umbrella movement known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is engaged in battle with IS across a 900km (560-mile) frontline in areas where Kurds are largely the majority ethnic population. The SDF generally operates in a tense ceasefire with the Assad regime and has even been accused of being in open alliance with it, and as a result the British government does not include the YPG or the SDF - which may have as many as 40-50,000 troops - in its estimate. But let's be honest - Western airpower and reconnaissance have been aiding the Kurdish forces for more than a year, and they are part of the West's anti-IS strategy in Syria, whether they fight Assad or not. It is strange to think that the forces the West backs most keenly are ignored when a strategy for bombing in Syria and bringing it to a political solution is outlined. So, counting the number of \"allies\" that the West considers vital to its dual strategy of defeating IS and pushing Mr Assad to the negotiating table makes the magical 70,000 number actually more like 100-120,000. It should also refer to areas of the country already under relatively stable control, rather than the scattered assortment of opposition militias that operate in the west and south. Lack of clarity was always going to be a problem in Syria, but the government has oversold the strength of potential allies, whilst simultaneously underselling the strength of others. Such is Syria, where one man's ally is another's mortal enemy, leading to a strategy in which the best solution is to back the groups we dislike the least. Michael Stephens is the Research Fellow for Middle East Studies and Head of Rusi Qatar. Follow him on Twitter @MStephensGulf", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1333, "answer_start": 990, "text": "Officials say the source for the 70,000 figure is the UK's Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), drawing on assessments by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK intelligence agencies and open sources. The figure, the officials add, refers to Syrian rebels who fulfil two basic criteria: Frank Gardner: Is PM right about the Syrian 'moderates'?" } ], "id": "850_0", "question": "What does the British government say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "If you are sitting at a desk, driving a taxi or carrying a hod, stop for a moment and ask: could a robot or machine do this job better? The answer, unfortunately for you, is probably - yes. The debate about whether machines will eliminate the need for human employment is no longer just academic. Boston Consulting Group predicts that by 2025, up to a quarter of jobs will be replaced by either smart software or robots, while a study from Oxford University has suggested that 35% of existing UK jobs are at risk of automation in the next 20 years. Office workers who do repetitive jobs such as writing reports or drawing up spreadsheets are easily replaced with software but what other jobs are under threat? The BBC looks at some of the jobs that are already being done by machines. To find out more about whether your job is at risk of automation in the next two decades, check out the BBC's interactive graphic. Taxi drivers in cities around the world are currently embroiled in rows with Uber - the app-based, on-demand service whose drivers, they argue, are subject to less regulation than them. But Uber, along with most of the major car manufacturers and Google, is already looking beyond a rival service to one that gets rid of the driver altogether. As chief executive Travis Kalanick puts it - the service would be a whole lot cheaper if you weren't \"paying for that other dude in the car\". Later this year, automated taxi pods will start running on the streets of England's Milton Keynes, offering rides around the town. The UK government is updating the highway code to take account of driverless cars. For the moment though \"the other dude in the car\" is in defiant mood. Steve McNamara, head of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association told the BBC that driverless cars didn't threaten his job. \"Autonomous vehicles will need primary legislation changes to operate on UK roads, the technology is in its infancy and untried and tested in busy urban environments, it ain't happening for many a year. In reality it is doubtful if autonomous cars could ever work alongside conventionally driven vehicles.\" In China, humans are already building robots that will ultimately take their jobs. The first robot-only factory is being built in China's Dongguan factory city. The factory, owned by Sehnzhen Evenwin Precision Technology, aims to reduce the current workforce of 1,800 by 90%, according to Chen Zingui, chairman of the board. But Chinese ambitions for a robot workforce go much further. Since September last year, a total of 505 factories across Dongguan have invested 4.2bn yuan (PS430m) in robots, aiming to replace more than 30,000 workers, according to the Dongguan Economy and Information Technology Bureau. Foxconn, maker of electronic devices such as Apple's iPhone, also plans a robot army although its ambitions are slightly more modest - aiming for a 30% robot workforce in the next five years. Intelligent Machines - a BBC News series looking at AI and robotics The chances are if you have recently read a corporate earning report on Forbes or a sports story on AP, it was written by a robot. Companies such as Narrative Science offer software such as Quill that is able to take data and turn it into something understandable. Quill writes company reports ahead of earnings announcements and Narrative Science claims this means Forbes can now offer this sort of report for thousands of companies rather than just the handful that could be written up by a human journalist. Narrative Science chief scientist Kristian Hammond has previously said that in 15 years' time, 90% of news will be written by machines but, he told the BBC, that didn't mean that 90% of journalist jobs would go. \"It means that the journalists can extend their reach. The world of news will expand,\" he said. \"The journalists will not be generating stories from data. That unambiguous, not-open-to-interpretation stuff will be done by machines.\" A robot may not yet have a good bedside manner but it is pretty good at wading through huge reams of data to find possible treatments for diseases. IBM's supercomputer Watson is teaming up with a dozen hospitals in the US, offering advice on the best treatments for a range of cancers. Using vision software developed by the firm, it is also helping to spot early-stage skin cancers. And robots have for years been helping doctors perform surgery - at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, for example, robots assist doctors with keyhole kidney surgery. Speed is a crucial factor in the success of such operations and the robots are able to sew blood vessels connecting donor kidneys far more quickly than humans. Robotic surgery is not foolproof though and a recent safety report found that machine-based surgeries were linked to at least 144 deaths in the US over the last decade. For the moment, robot and man work side-by-side in medicine but that may not always be the case. \"Doctors in particular aren't likely to graciously cede control of their patients' treatment to synthetic intellects,\" writes Jerry Kaplan in his book Humans Need Not Apply. \"But eventually, when outcomes demonstrate that this is the better option, patients will demand to see the attentive robot, not the overworked doctor, for a fraction of the fee.\" Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise ship Anthem of the Seas has recently installed a robotic bar - Shakr Makr - a machine developed at MIT a few years ago. Drinks can be ordered via a tablet device and users aren't limited to a set menu - they can, if they are brave enough, create their own cocktail. The robotic arm mixes the cocktail and pours it into a plastic (to avoid breakages) glass that sits in a trough (its pouring skills aren't always precise). And it does so with some panache - filling the cocktail mixer from optics above it and even shaking it before pouring. In the interests of science, the BBC tested two from the robotic bar and two from a traditional cocktail waiter in a conventional bar on board the ship. The robotic concoctions did not actually taste that good - they lacked the fine-tuning, like the fresh twist of lemon that the human bartender added. These examples illustrate both the possibilities and limitations of robotic workers but each one could easily have been replaced with others - lorry drivers, hotel workers, lawyers - all of which have robot versions that are actually being used today. It raises the question - what will humans do when their skills are surplus to requirements? Martin Ford - author of Rise of the Robots - thinks we face mass unemployment and economic collapse unless we make radical changes, such as offering humans a basic wage, a guaranteed income. What humans will actually do with all their free time is harder to assess - spend more time at the beach think some, while others argue for the need to keep the human touch in the work place. \"I strongly hope that teachers, doctors and judges will remain human because sometimes you need someone to talk to,\" Nello Cristianini, professor of AI at Bristol University told the BBC. After all, the work we do currently is as much about talking as it is about getting a job done efficiently and, whatever they may be good at, robots engaging in office banter isn't happening any time soon.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7277, "answer_start": 6157, "text": "These examples illustrate both the possibilities and limitations of robotic workers but each one could easily have been replaced with others - lorry drivers, hotel workers, lawyers - all of which have robot versions that are actually being used today. It raises the question - what will humans do when their skills are surplus to requirements? Martin Ford - author of Rise of the Robots - thinks we face mass unemployment and economic collapse unless we make radical changes, such as offering humans a basic wage, a guaranteed income. What humans will actually do with all their free time is harder to assess - spend more time at the beach think some, while others argue for the need to keep the human touch in the work place. \"I strongly hope that teachers, doctors and judges will remain human because sometimes you need someone to talk to,\" Nello Cristianini, professor of AI at Bristol University told the BBC. After all, the work we do currently is as much about talking as it is about getting a job done efficiently and, whatever they may be good at, robots engaging in office banter isn't happening any time soon." } ], "id": "851_0", "question": "Life's a beach?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Greece's centre-right opposition party New Democracy has won the nation's snap general election. With most districts counted, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted defeat to his rival, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. New Democracy has 39.85% of the vote so far, with Mr Tsipras's leftist Syriza party in second place with 31.53%. Current projections give New Democracy an outright majority, as the winner receives 50 extra seats in parliament. Nearly all districts have returned their results, official figures show. Turnout in the election was about 57% - one of the lowest figures in decades. There have been a half dozen elections in recent years and on Sunday, many residents flocked to the beaches or sheltered at home as temperatures exceeded 35C in places. The prime minister-elect told supporters he had been given a strong mandate for change. \"The country proudly raises its head again,\" he told the crowd in the capital Athens, saying he would be a prime minister for all because Greeks were \"too few to stay divided\". Speaking as the results became clear, Mr Tsipras confirmed he had called Mr Mitsotakis to offer him his congratulations. \"Today, with our head held high we accept the people's verdict. To bring Greece to where it is today we had to take difficult decisions [with] a heavy political cost,\" Mr Tsipras told journalists. Outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Mr Mitsotakis on his \"clear victory\". The centre-left Movement for Change is on 8.1%, followed by the Communist Party on 5.3%. The far-right Golden Dawn party is short of the 3% minimum needed to enter parliament by the narrowest of margins - at 2.93%. The nationalist pro-Russian Greek Solution and MeRA25, the left-wing party of former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, both crossed the threshold. Analysis by Mark Lowen, BBC News, Athens Back in 2015, Alexis Tsipras seemed like the figure of change. In his firebrand rallies, the left-wing populist vowed to tear up Greece's bailout programme and end austerity. But he hopelessly overpromised. Under pressure from the EU, capital controls on its banks and the threat of \"Grexit\" - departure from the euro - he was forced into a humiliating U-turn, signing up to a third, EUR89bn (PS80bn; $100bn) bailout, and more austerity. His support base began to ebb away. As the Mitsotakis era begins, one of Europe's iconic leftist leaders of the past four years departs the stage. But he'll regroup in opposition and wait in the wings to seize on any misstep by Greece's new leader. Greek media also report a ballot box was stolen by an unidentified group which had forced its way into one polling station. Prime Minister Tsipras, who swept to power in 2015, called the elections after suffering defeat in the local and European votes in May. He had toppled New Democracy from power by campaigning against the austerity policies that had affected Greeks for years. Yet within months, he was forced to accept tough conditions in return for Greece's third international bailout. Mr Tsipras faced a revolt from within his party as a result and responded by calling fresh elections, which he won. However, his party's popularity was dented as unemployment increased, and Greece's economy shrank. Mr Mitsotakis attacked his rival's record, saying that economic improvement was too slow. He also benefited from widespread anger at a landmark deal with North Macedonia over the name of the country - which it shares with a Greek region. New Democracy has promised to lower taxes and privatise services in the country, which is still feeling the effects of the 2008 financial crisis. Greece has been in receipt of a series of bailout programmes over the past decade, which it officially \"exited\" last August as economic growth returned. But youth unemployment remains high, and New Democracy has counted many 18-24 year olds among its supporters. The potential new prime minister comes from one of Greece's long-standing political dynasties. Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the son of former Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis. His sister, Dora Bakoyannis, was mayor of Athens when the city hosted the Olympics in 2004, before becoming Greek foreign minister.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1447, "answer_start": 754, "text": "The prime minister-elect told supporters he had been given a strong mandate for change. \"The country proudly raises its head again,\" he told the crowd in the capital Athens, saying he would be a prime minister for all because Greeks were \"too few to stay divided\". Speaking as the results became clear, Mr Tsipras confirmed he had called Mr Mitsotakis to offer him his congratulations. \"Today, with our head held high we accept the people's verdict. To bring Greece to where it is today we had to take difficult decisions [with] a heavy political cost,\" Mr Tsipras told journalists. Outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Mr Mitsotakis on his \"clear victory\"." } ], "id": "852_0", "question": "What did Mitsotakis say in his victory speech?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1810, "answer_start": 1448, "text": "The centre-left Movement for Change is on 8.1%, followed by the Communist Party on 5.3%. The far-right Golden Dawn party is short of the 3% minimum needed to enter parliament by the narrowest of margins - at 2.93%. The nationalist pro-Russian Greek Solution and MeRA25, the left-wing party of former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, both crossed the threshold." } ], "id": "852_1", "question": "What do the results say so far?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3485, "answer_start": 2663, "text": "Prime Minister Tsipras, who swept to power in 2015, called the elections after suffering defeat in the local and European votes in May. He had toppled New Democracy from power by campaigning against the austerity policies that had affected Greeks for years. Yet within months, he was forced to accept tough conditions in return for Greece's third international bailout. Mr Tsipras faced a revolt from within his party as a result and responded by calling fresh elections, which he won. However, his party's popularity was dented as unemployment increased, and Greece's economy shrank. Mr Mitsotakis attacked his rival's record, saying that economic improvement was too slow. He also benefited from widespread anger at a landmark deal with North Macedonia over the name of the country - which it shares with a Greek region." } ], "id": "852_2", "question": "What happened to Syriza's support?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4202, "answer_start": 3486, "text": "New Democracy has promised to lower taxes and privatise services in the country, which is still feeling the effects of the 2008 financial crisis. Greece has been in receipt of a series of bailout programmes over the past decade, which it officially \"exited\" last August as economic growth returned. But youth unemployment remains high, and New Democracy has counted many 18-24 year olds among its supporters. The potential new prime minister comes from one of Greece's long-standing political dynasties. Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the son of former Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis. His sister, Dora Bakoyannis, was mayor of Athens when the city hosted the Olympics in 2004, before becoming Greek foreign minister." } ], "id": "852_3", "question": "What does New Democracy stand for?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Voters can use the next general election to have their say on a final Brexit deal, Michael Gove has said. The environment secretary praised Theresa May's \"tenacity and skill\" in securing a last-minute deal to end phase one negotiations on Friday. But, writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said if British people \"dislike the arrangement\", they can change it. Reports suggest the cabinet will meet on 19 December to discuss its \"end state\" plans for Brexit. This is just two days before Parliament's two-week Christmas recess. Mr Gove, one of the cabinet's leading Brexiteers, said the primary agreement between the two sides had \"set the scene for phase two\" negotiations - where issues such as trade will be discussed. But he said that \"nothing is agreed until everything is agreed\" at the end of the process. After a two-year transition period, the UK would be able to pass laws with \"full freedom to diverge from EU law on the single market and customs union,\" he added. And the British people would \"be in control\" to make the government change direction if they were unhappy, he said. \"By the time of the next election, EU law and any new treaty with the EU will cease to have primacy or direct effect in UK law,\" said Mr Gove. \"If the British people dislike the arrangement that we have negotiated with the EU, the agreement will allow a future government to diverge.\" The next general election is currently due to be held in 2022, three years after the UK leaves the EU. However, it could be sooner if the prime minister calls one, and MPs agree to it, or if the government collapses. The former Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, said the next phase - the trade discussions - would be the \"bruising but vital bit\". European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Friday's deal was a \"breakthrough\" and he was confident EU leaders would approve it at a European Council summit next week. Citizens' rights: Three million EU citizens currently in the UK would be allowed to continue living and working there. Those already in the country, without permanent residency, would be able to acquire it after Brexit. The one million or so UK citizens living in an EU country after Brexit would get the same rights, under the agreement. It also includes reunification rights for relatives who do not live in the UK to join them in their host country in the future Money: The so-called \"divorce bill\" will amount to between PS35bn and PS39bn, Downing Street sources say. This includes budget contributions during a two-year \"transition\" period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. The precise figure is unlikely to be known for some time. Irish border: There will be no \"hard border\" between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The UK government and the EU want to maintain the free flow of goods, without border checks that they fear could threaten a return to The Troubles, but the DUP does not want Northern Ireland to be treated differently to the rest of the UK after Brexit. The joint EU-UK document says any future deal must protect \"North-South co-operation\" and hold to the UK's \"guarantee of avoiding a hard border\". The agreement also says \"no new regulatory barriers\" will be allowed between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and that Northern Ireland's businesses will continue to have \"unfettered access\" to the UK internal market - a passage thought to have been added to meet DUP concerns. But it also sets out a fallback position if the UK fails to agree a trade deal. This could prove controversial because it says there will continue to be \"full alignment\" between the EU and Northern Ireland on some elements of cross-border trade, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, whose opposition on Monday led to talks with the EU breaking down, said there was still \"more work to be done\" on the border issue and how it voted on the final deal would \"depend on its contents\". Barry Gardiner, Labour's international trade secretary, called the agreement on the Irish border issue a \"fudge\", saying Mrs May appeared to have contradictory red lines. His party wanted to see an agreement which harmed neither the settlement, nor the economic situation, he said. Justice minister Dominic Raab said the details of how to deal with the issue of the Irish border had still to be worked out in full. \"You can call it strategic ambiguity, you can call it constructive ambiguity... what I am admitting to you, very openly, and honestly, is that we have agreed principles, but that the details still need to be ironed out on this very bespoke set of issues around Northern Ireland which can't be dealt with properly and responsibly outside of the context of the broader negotiation on customs and trade and all of those other things we have said all along,\" he told BBC 2's Newsnight. Leave campaigner Andrea Leadsom, leader of the Commons, said the overall deal was a \"significant achievement\" for the prime minister. \"People on all sides of the argument are now seeing that she is determined and is succeeding in making a success of leaving the EU,\" she said. Fellow Leave campaigner Iain Duncan Smith said it had been fascinating to see the EU's reaction after failing to secure a deal in Brussels on Monday. \"They realised they were staring down the eyes of a no-deal, and so they got into action for the first time for many months, and literally drove with the UK government the changes that were necessary to get this thing on track. \"Why? The EU recognises that they really do need and want a free trade arrangement with the UK,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said Mr Gove wanted to deny the public the right to block a poor deal and the only way to give people control was for a vote on the terms of the deal, with the option to exit from Brexit. Sir Andrew Cahn, a former head of UK trade and investment, said it was \"simply not true\" that the EU had blinked first. It was, he said, the UK which had done so by agreeing to pay more money and by fudging the Northern Ireland issue. He said the UK had done the \"easy bit\" and now it had to decide what sort of arrangement it wanted with the EU, which has not been done yet. On Friday, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the UK was \"closing doors\" on its future relationship with the EU by laying down \"red lines\" in the negotiation, including leaving the customs unions and the single market. They leave the UK with only one way forward, he suggested - a free trade agreement on the Canadian model. \"It is not us, it is the British government, which is indicating these red lines that is closing certain doors. That is the model we are going to have to work on,\" he said. There are plenty of technical details in Friday's agreement that still need to be clarified, which will have to happen in parallel with any discussions about the future. If EU leaders approve the agreement at an EU Council summit next week, talks can then move on to a transition deal to cover a period of up to two years after Brexit and the \"framework for the future relationship\" - preliminary discussions about a future trade deal. However, the EU says a deal can only be finalised once the UK has left the EU in March 2019. Before that, the UK government has to decide what kind of Brexit, and what kind of future relationship with the EU, it really wants. The cabinet is split between those who want to stay as close as possible to the EU's single market and all the regulations that implies, and those who argue that moving away from EU rules, and giving the UK the ability to strike out on its own, was one of the main aims of Brexit. A final withdrawal treaty and transition deal will have to be ratified by the EU nations and the UK Parliament, before the UK leaves.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3715, "answer_start": 1905, "text": "Citizens' rights: Three million EU citizens currently in the UK would be allowed to continue living and working there. Those already in the country, without permanent residency, would be able to acquire it after Brexit. The one million or so UK citizens living in an EU country after Brexit would get the same rights, under the agreement. It also includes reunification rights for relatives who do not live in the UK to join them in their host country in the future Money: The so-called \"divorce bill\" will amount to between PS35bn and PS39bn, Downing Street sources say. This includes budget contributions during a two-year \"transition\" period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. The precise figure is unlikely to be known for some time. Irish border: There will be no \"hard border\" between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The UK government and the EU want to maintain the free flow of goods, without border checks that they fear could threaten a return to The Troubles, but the DUP does not want Northern Ireland to be treated differently to the rest of the UK after Brexit. The joint EU-UK document says any future deal must protect \"North-South co-operation\" and hold to the UK's \"guarantee of avoiding a hard border\". The agreement also says \"no new regulatory barriers\" will be allowed between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and that Northern Ireland's businesses will continue to have \"unfettered access\" to the UK internal market - a passage thought to have been added to meet DUP concerns. But it also sets out a fallback position if the UK fails to agree a trade deal. This could prove controversial because it says there will continue to be \"full alignment\" between the EU and Northern Ireland on some elements of cross-border trade, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement." } ], "id": "853_0", "question": "What was agreed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5871, "answer_start": 3716, "text": "Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, whose opposition on Monday led to talks with the EU breaking down, said there was still \"more work to be done\" on the border issue and how it voted on the final deal would \"depend on its contents\". Barry Gardiner, Labour's international trade secretary, called the agreement on the Irish border issue a \"fudge\", saying Mrs May appeared to have contradictory red lines. His party wanted to see an agreement which harmed neither the settlement, nor the economic situation, he said. Justice minister Dominic Raab said the details of how to deal with the issue of the Irish border had still to be worked out in full. \"You can call it strategic ambiguity, you can call it constructive ambiguity... what I am admitting to you, very openly, and honestly, is that we have agreed principles, but that the details still need to be ironed out on this very bespoke set of issues around Northern Ireland which can't be dealt with properly and responsibly outside of the context of the broader negotiation on customs and trade and all of those other things we have said all along,\" he told BBC 2's Newsnight. Leave campaigner Andrea Leadsom, leader of the Commons, said the overall deal was a \"significant achievement\" for the prime minister. \"People on all sides of the argument are now seeing that she is determined and is succeeding in making a success of leaving the EU,\" she said. Fellow Leave campaigner Iain Duncan Smith said it had been fascinating to see the EU's reaction after failing to secure a deal in Brussels on Monday. \"They realised they were staring down the eyes of a no-deal, and so they got into action for the first time for many months, and literally drove with the UK government the changes that were necessary to get this thing on track. \"Why? The EU recognises that they really do need and want a free trade arrangement with the UK,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said Mr Gove wanted to deny the public the right to block a poor deal and the only way to give people control was for a vote on the terms of the deal, with the option to exit from Brexit." } ], "id": "853_1", "question": "What's been the reaction from politicians?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6766, "answer_start": 5872, "text": "Sir Andrew Cahn, a former head of UK trade and investment, said it was \"simply not true\" that the EU had blinked first. It was, he said, the UK which had done so by agreeing to pay more money and by fudging the Northern Ireland issue. He said the UK had done the \"easy bit\" and now it had to decide what sort of arrangement it wanted with the EU, which has not been done yet. On Friday, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the UK was \"closing doors\" on its future relationship with the EU by laying down \"red lines\" in the negotiation, including leaving the customs unions and the single market. They leave the UK with only one way forward, he suggested - a free trade agreement on the Canadian model. \"It is not us, it is the British government, which is indicating these red lines that is closing certain doors. That is the model we are going to have to work on,\" he said." } ], "id": "853_2", "question": "What are others saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7843, "answer_start": 6767, "text": "There are plenty of technical details in Friday's agreement that still need to be clarified, which will have to happen in parallel with any discussions about the future. If EU leaders approve the agreement at an EU Council summit next week, talks can then move on to a transition deal to cover a period of up to two years after Brexit and the \"framework for the future relationship\" - preliminary discussions about a future trade deal. However, the EU says a deal can only be finalised once the UK has left the EU in March 2019. Before that, the UK government has to decide what kind of Brexit, and what kind of future relationship with the EU, it really wants. The cabinet is split between those who want to stay as close as possible to the EU's single market and all the regulations that implies, and those who argue that moving away from EU rules, and giving the UK the ability to strike out on its own, was one of the main aims of Brexit. A final withdrawal treaty and transition deal will have to be ratified by the EU nations and the UK Parliament, before the UK leaves." } ], "id": "853_3", "question": "What happens now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia's parliament has passed two bills outlawing \"disrespect\" of authorities and the spreading of what the government deems to be \"fake news\". The first ban refers to \"blatant disrespect\" of the state, its officials and Russian society, and repeat offenders face up to 15 days in jail. The second bill prohibits sharing \"false information of public interest, shared under the guise of fake news,\" the TASS state news agency reported. Both new crimes carry heavy fines. President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign the bills into law once they have received approval from Russia's upper house, the Federation Council. The body will consider both bills on 13 March. Journalists, human rights campaigners and even government ministers have voiced their opposition. Nikolai Svanidze, a journalist and member of Russia's Civic Chamber, said the \"barbaric\" legislation would \"make journalists fearful of speaking and writing\". Business newspaper Vedomosti also criticised the measures, saying they could threaten online news sites and blogs that quote anonymous sources critical of the government. But lawmakers for the governing United Russia party, whose members proposed the bills, defended the legislation. MP Pavel Krasheninnikov said the laws would \"ensure protection against so-called web-based terrorists\", while his colleague Anatoly Vyborny praised efforts to \"discipline our citizens\" and promote \"greater accountability\". Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow correspondent If you believe the pro-Kremlin MPs behind this legislation, tackling fake news and online insults benefits the Russian people and the state. But the headline in today's edition of the newspaper Vedomosti tells a different story: \"Fake concern about society\", declared its front page. Critics of the legislation believe the draft laws are part of a growing Kremlin-inspired crackdown on Internet freedom. They point to another bill under debate to create a \"Sovereign Internet\". Under the plan, Russian cyber space could operate independently of the world wide web. Many see this as Russia's version of the Great Firewall of China: an Internet Iron Curtain. As for the draft law on disrespect, earlier this week popular tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets summed up concern in a stark cartoon. It depicted a police officer talking to a man who is brandishing an axe, with bodies lying all around. Pointing to the weapon, the policeman says: \"Don't worry about that. Just make sure you don't write anything bad online about the authorities.\" For showing \"disrespect\", first-time offenders face fines up to 100,000 roubles (PS1,150; $1,500). Repeated violations could bring double or even triple the amount in fines, or a 15-day jail sentence. Sanctions for publishing so-called fake news will vary. Individuals, officials and businesses will face fines of 300,000, 600,000 or 1 million roubles respectively if the spread information affects \"functioning of critical infrastructure\" like transport or communications. Any online article containing \"blatant disrespect\" for the government or \"public morality\" will have to be deleted within 24 hours. Traditional media registered with the Justice Ministry will face fines under the fake news bill, while originally they had been threatened with losing their licenses. News sites without a licence could be blocked without warning by the state media regulator.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1429, "answer_start": 666, "text": "Journalists, human rights campaigners and even government ministers have voiced their opposition. Nikolai Svanidze, a journalist and member of Russia's Civic Chamber, said the \"barbaric\" legislation would \"make journalists fearful of speaking and writing\". Business newspaper Vedomosti also criticised the measures, saying they could threaten online news sites and blogs that quote anonymous sources critical of the government. But lawmakers for the governing United Russia party, whose members proposed the bills, defended the legislation. MP Pavel Krasheninnikov said the laws would \"ensure protection against so-called web-based terrorists\", while his colleague Anatoly Vyborny praised efforts to \"discipline our citizens\" and promote \"greater accountability\"." } ], "id": "854_0", "question": "What's been the reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2505, "answer_start": 1430, "text": "Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow correspondent If you believe the pro-Kremlin MPs behind this legislation, tackling fake news and online insults benefits the Russian people and the state. But the headline in today's edition of the newspaper Vedomosti tells a different story: \"Fake concern about society\", declared its front page. Critics of the legislation believe the draft laws are part of a growing Kremlin-inspired crackdown on Internet freedom. They point to another bill under debate to create a \"Sovereign Internet\". Under the plan, Russian cyber space could operate independently of the world wide web. Many see this as Russia's version of the Great Firewall of China: an Internet Iron Curtain. As for the draft law on disrespect, earlier this week popular tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets summed up concern in a stark cartoon. It depicted a police officer talking to a man who is brandishing an axe, with bodies lying all around. Pointing to the weapon, the policeman says: \"Don't worry about that. Just make sure you don't write anything bad online about the authorities.\"" } ], "id": "854_1", "question": "An Internet Iron Curtain?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3370, "answer_start": 2506, "text": "For showing \"disrespect\", first-time offenders face fines up to 100,000 roubles (PS1,150; $1,500). Repeated violations could bring double or even triple the amount in fines, or a 15-day jail sentence. Sanctions for publishing so-called fake news will vary. Individuals, officials and businesses will face fines of 300,000, 600,000 or 1 million roubles respectively if the spread information affects \"functioning of critical infrastructure\" like transport or communications. Any online article containing \"blatant disrespect\" for the government or \"public morality\" will have to be deleted within 24 hours. Traditional media registered with the Justice Ministry will face fines under the fake news bill, while originally they had been threatened with losing their licenses. News sites without a licence could be blocked without warning by the state media regulator." } ], "id": "854_2", "question": "What are the punishments?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Germany's highest court is hearing a challenge to a planned EU-Canada free trade deal from some 125,000 citizens. The organisations behind the complaint say it is the biggest constitutional complaint in German history. They say the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) deal violates democratic principles and will give too much power to multinational companies. But the German economy minister says a ruling in favour of the petitioners would be \"a catastrophe\". The Constitutional Court in the south-western city of Karlsruhe is due to rule on the emergency appeal on Thursday. The deal has already been agreed after years of negotiations - but if this petition is successful, correspondents say, it is extremely unlikely to be signed as scheduled at the end of October. Protests in Germany against transatlantic TTIP and Ceta trade deals EU Commission refuses to revise Canada Ceta trade deal Belgian province may sink EU-Canada trade deal Three activist groups gathered more than 125,000 signatures which they passed to the court in 70 boxes of documents in August. They are Compact, Foodwatch and More Democracy. Their legal objection to the deal is that parts of it can come into force even before national parliaments have ratified it, thus breaching the German constitution. \"Not a single parliament elected by me - neither the Bundestag nor the European Parliament - was given a mandate to negotiate for Ceta,\" says Roman Huber of More Democracy. Its most visible opponent on Tuesday was German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. He has already battled to win his Social Democratic Party (SPD) round to the deal. He told the court that a successful challenge to Ceta would undermine Germany's credibility, reported Die Welt news website. \"I do not want to imagine what that could mean for Europe,\" he told the court. Activists fear that the deals could water down European standards in the key areas of workers' rights, public health and the environment. They say it will open up new areas for privatisation and give corporations new powers to make profits. They say it would give corporations the ability to sue governments through a special corporate court if they try to implement policies or regulations that could reduce the profits a company is expecting to make - for example, by increasing the minimum wage. Opponents also point to the complexity of the deal - suggesting that many deputies won't have read the 1,500-page document in full. Some argue that Ceta will allow many of the provisions in TTIP - the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal between the US and Europe - in through the back door. In August, Mr Gabriel was among leading European politicians who acknowledged that opposition meant the TTIP deal was effectively dead in the water. The court in Karlsruhe is due to rule on Thursday. If it rejects the complaints, European ministers are scheduled to approve the deal on 18 October, paving the way for it to be signed at a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 27 October. But if it fails the whole process could be upended, Mr Gabriel and Ceta opponents such as the Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern agree. Some, such as the head of Germany's Left party Katja Kipping, argue that the scale of opposition to Ceta is such that a reconsideration of the deal is warranted even if the court dismisses this complaint. - Negotiations began in 2009 and ended in August 2014; - The deal aims to eliminate 98% of tariffs between Canada and EU, making it the EU's most comprehensive trade deal to date; - Signing is expected on 27 October, after which it requires ratification by the European Parliament and national parliaments; - It includes: the new Investment Court System (ICS); harmonised regulations; sustainable development clauses; and access to public sector tenders; - The deal is opposed by various groups, including environmental activists, trade unionists, and Austrian Socialists. Would CETA be a good model for the UK? European Parliament briefing on Ceta", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1467, "answer_start": 955, "text": "Three activist groups gathered more than 125,000 signatures which they passed to the court in 70 boxes of documents in August. They are Compact, Foodwatch and More Democracy. Their legal objection to the deal is that parts of it can come into force even before national parliaments have ratified it, thus breaching the German constitution. \"Not a single parliament elected by me - neither the Bundestag nor the European Parliament - was given a mandate to negotiate for Ceta,\" says Roman Huber of More Democracy." } ], "id": "855_0", "question": "So who are the complainants?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1855, "answer_start": 1468, "text": "Its most visible opponent on Tuesday was German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. He has already battled to win his Social Democratic Party (SPD) round to the deal. He told the court that a successful challenge to Ceta would undermine Germany's credibility, reported Die Welt news website. \"I do not want to imagine what that could mean for Europe,\" he told the court." } ], "id": "855_1", "question": "Who opposes the lawsuit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3420, "answer_start": 2825, "text": "The court in Karlsruhe is due to rule on Thursday. If it rejects the complaints, European ministers are scheduled to approve the deal on 18 October, paving the way for it to be signed at a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 27 October. But if it fails the whole process could be upended, Mr Gabriel and Ceta opponents such as the Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern agree. Some, such as the head of Germany's Left party Katja Kipping, argue that the scale of opposition to Ceta is such that a reconsideration of the deal is warranted even if the court dismisses this complaint." } ], "id": "855_2", "question": "What next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Facebook was warned by security researchers that attackers could abuse its phone number and email search facility to harvest people's data. On Wednesday, the firm said \"malicious actors\" had been harvesting profiles for years by abusing the search tool. It said anybody that had not changed their privacy settings after adding their phone number should assume their information had been harvested. One security expert told the BBC the attack had been possible \"for years\". Until Wednesday, Facebook let people search for their friends' profiles by typing in a phone number or email address. But it said scammers had abused the facility and used it to link phone numbers and emails to people's names and profile information. An attacker could type in any phone number - even one they had made up by guessing - and link it to a person's profile. Often this would reveal their name, location and other profile information. By linking a phone number to personal details, a scammer could telephone the victim and address them by name. They could pretend to be from a bank or other organisation. \"This is known as enumeration, going through all the iterations of a number,\" said security researcher Ken Munro from Pen Test Partners. \"If you wanted to scam somebody, you had a route to find their details and know their name - a fantastic set-up for a scam.\" Facebook said it had put measures in place to limit how often people could search. But the measures were \"not able to prevent malicious actors who cycled through hundreds of thousands of different IP addresses,\" Mark Zuckerberg explained. An IP address can be used to identify an individual computer using the internet, but the attackers changed theirs frequently to avoid detection. Facebook has previously encouraged people to add their phone number to their account. It said doing so would make it easier to connect with friends, or improve account security. By default, anybody could then find the Facebook profile by typing the phone number in the search box. Facebook said the facility had been \"useful\" for finding friends, especially in countries where many people have the same name. It said phone number searches made up \"7% of all searches\" in Bangladesh. However, while members could choose not to display their phone number on their profile, it was not possible to completely opt out of the search facility. Security researchers have previously written about how the feature could be abused by scammers. In August 2015, Facebook told one security researcher that it did not consider the issue a security vulnerability. News site Wired has also spoken to another developer that raised the issue with Facebook. Facebook has faced scrutiny after it was revealed that the data of millions of people was improperly shared with the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. On Thursday, Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport said Facebook had put \"the data of over a million of our citizens at risk\". Facebook said an audit had revealed that scammers had managed to act with \"scale and sophistication\" to overcome its technical measures. It said \"most people on Facebook could have had their public profile scraped in this way\". Speaking to reporters, Mr Zuckerberg said: \"It is reasonable to expect that if you had that [default] setting turned on, that in the last several years someone has probably accessed your public information in this way. \"Given that and what we know today, it just makes sense to shut that down.\" The company has now disabled the ability to search by phone number.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1735, "answer_start": 473, "text": "Until Wednesday, Facebook let people search for their friends' profiles by typing in a phone number or email address. But it said scammers had abused the facility and used it to link phone numbers and emails to people's names and profile information. An attacker could type in any phone number - even one they had made up by guessing - and link it to a person's profile. Often this would reveal their name, location and other profile information. By linking a phone number to personal details, a scammer could telephone the victim and address them by name. They could pretend to be from a bank or other organisation. \"This is known as enumeration, going through all the iterations of a number,\" said security researcher Ken Munro from Pen Test Partners. \"If you wanted to scam somebody, you had a route to find their details and know their name - a fantastic set-up for a scam.\" Facebook said it had put measures in place to limit how often people could search. But the measures were \"not able to prevent malicious actors who cycled through hundreds of thousands of different IP addresses,\" Mark Zuckerberg explained. An IP address can be used to identify an individual computer using the internet, but the attackers changed theirs frequently to avoid detection." } ], "id": "856_0", "question": "How did the attack work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2673, "answer_start": 1736, "text": "Facebook has previously encouraged people to add their phone number to their account. It said doing so would make it easier to connect with friends, or improve account security. By default, anybody could then find the Facebook profile by typing the phone number in the search box. Facebook said the facility had been \"useful\" for finding friends, especially in countries where many people have the same name. It said phone number searches made up \"7% of all searches\" in Bangladesh. However, while members could choose not to display their phone number on their profile, it was not possible to completely opt out of the search facility. Security researchers have previously written about how the feature could be abused by scammers. In August 2015, Facebook told one security researcher that it did not consider the issue a security vulnerability. News site Wired has also spoken to another developer that raised the issue with Facebook." } ], "id": "856_1", "question": "Was the issue reported?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3588, "answer_start": 2674, "text": "Facebook has faced scrutiny after it was revealed that the data of millions of people was improperly shared with the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. On Thursday, Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport said Facebook had put \"the data of over a million of our citizens at risk\". Facebook said an audit had revealed that scammers had managed to act with \"scale and sophistication\" to overcome its technical measures. It said \"most people on Facebook could have had their public profile scraped in this way\". Speaking to reporters, Mr Zuckerberg said: \"It is reasonable to expect that if you had that [default] setting turned on, that in the last several years someone has probably accessed your public information in this way. \"Given that and what we know today, it just makes sense to shut that down.\" The company has now disabled the ability to search by phone number." } ], "id": "856_2", "question": "Why has Facebook acted now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "For just EUR13 (PS11; $14), you too could have entered an online quiz to win a sprawling guest house set in the idyllic Dordogne in south-west France. The contest was the idea of Brigitte and Christophe Demassougne, who had initially put their property on sale with local estate agents. But the competition has fallen foul of French online gaming regulator Arjel. The couple have been given eight days to prove the quiz does not breach a ban on games of chance based on knowledge. They were hoping to raise up to EUR2m and then award the house to the lucky winner in December. The couple have run the 450 sq m guest house on a seven-acre site at Cenac-et-Saint-Julien for the past 20 years. It includes an 18th Century villa, exterior buildings, tennis court and pool. Its value was estimated at around EUR1.5m. Along with eight bedrooms in the house itself, there are two bed and breakfast gites and horse boxes. As they neared retirement the couple decided to put the property on the market and had the idea of launching an online contest. \"I decided that the day I wanted to sell my house, I would do it in this way. Legal fees are really expensive and people can't afford to buy these properties,\" Brigitte Demassougne told France Bleu radio as the contest began. Their hope was for 150,000 people to play the quiz by 1 December, so they could raise EUR2m. They were counting on French interest, but also potential buyers from abroad. Local reports said there had been entries from the UK, Canada, Belgium and Australia. The lush Dordogne valley has long been loved by UK tourists and thousands of British expatriates have moved there. Since the start on 1 April, 20,000 people have taken part in the EUR13 contest, AFP reports. To enter, you had to answer two easy multiple-choice questions correctly, based on local geography, as well as guess the value of three objects, including an 18-carat gold 1kg bracelet. The winner of the quiz would be the one with the two correct answers and the most accurate estimate for the three objects. The quiz, which was widely publicised in the local area, soon came to the notice of the online gaming regulator. According to a notice on the couple's site, the quiz has been suspended for eight days to allow them to prove their game \"is not a game of chance and expertise\". Under a 2014 law, games of chance based on a player's expertise are banned. It says the sale of property is considered a lottery if an element of chance is involved and a participant has paid money to take part. The couple have said they will pay everyone back if the regulator decides against them. Ms Demassougne said they would challenge the regulator in good faith, but she was \"pessimistic\" about their chances of success, she told AFP. Holding competitions to sell your home is nothing new. Earlier this year a Canadian woman held a letter-writing contest for her home near Calgary. A man in the Netherlands won a raffle last year when a book shop owner in Wales decided to give his customers the chance to win his store.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2041, "answer_start": 577, "text": "The couple have run the 450 sq m guest house on a seven-acre site at Cenac-et-Saint-Julien for the past 20 years. It includes an 18th Century villa, exterior buildings, tennis court and pool. Its value was estimated at around EUR1.5m. Along with eight bedrooms in the house itself, there are two bed and breakfast gites and horse boxes. As they neared retirement the couple decided to put the property on the market and had the idea of launching an online contest. \"I decided that the day I wanted to sell my house, I would do it in this way. Legal fees are really expensive and people can't afford to buy these properties,\" Brigitte Demassougne told France Bleu radio as the contest began. Their hope was for 150,000 people to play the quiz by 1 December, so they could raise EUR2m. They were counting on French interest, but also potential buyers from abroad. Local reports said there had been entries from the UK, Canada, Belgium and Australia. The lush Dordogne valley has long been loved by UK tourists and thousands of British expatriates have moved there. Since the start on 1 April, 20,000 people have taken part in the EUR13 contest, AFP reports. To enter, you had to answer two easy multiple-choice questions correctly, based on local geography, as well as guess the value of three objects, including an 18-carat gold 1kg bracelet. The winner of the quiz would be the one with the two correct answers and the most accurate estimate for the three objects." } ], "id": "857_0", "question": "Why did they start the quiz?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3044, "answer_start": 2042, "text": "The quiz, which was widely publicised in the local area, soon came to the notice of the online gaming regulator. According to a notice on the couple's site, the quiz has been suspended for eight days to allow them to prove their game \"is not a game of chance and expertise\". Under a 2014 law, games of chance based on a player's expertise are banned. It says the sale of property is considered a lottery if an element of chance is involved and a participant has paid money to take part. The couple have said they will pay everyone back if the regulator decides against them. Ms Demassougne said they would challenge the regulator in good faith, but she was \"pessimistic\" about their chances of success, she told AFP. Holding competitions to sell your home is nothing new. Earlier this year a Canadian woman held a letter-writing contest for her home near Calgary. A man in the Netherlands won a raffle last year when a book shop owner in Wales decided to give his customers the chance to win his store." } ], "id": "857_1", "question": "What did they do wrong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nigeria's army says 800 militants from the Islamist Boko Haram group who have surrendered and shown remorse will be rehabilitated into society. They would be profiled, documented and offered training in new skills at several camps currently being set up, the army spokesman told the BBC. Until now militants who surrender have been held in jail awaiting trial. The army has been criticised in the past for its treatment of Boko Haram insurgents and suspects. Last June, Amnesty International said that 7,000 young men and boys had died in military detention in Nigeria since 2011. The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in the capital, Abuja, says the programme, known as Operation Safe Corridor, hopes to persuade others who are yet to renounce their membership of the jihadi group to do so. It is also an attempt by the army to show that human rights will be respected in future - a key promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari when he came to power last year. The seven-year insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria has killed some 17,000 people and forced more than 2.6 million from their homes. Army spokesman Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar said there would be two or three camps by the military - the locations of which would be made public when they were officially launched in the next few months. \"They will be very big and all facilities will put in place... to rehabilitate them to become good members of society,\" he told our correspondent. Other government agencies would be involved in this new de-radicalisation programme, he added. Asked if the repentant militants would be paid whilst they underwent training, Brig Gen Abubakar said: \"I believe the government will definitely ask the relevant agencies to do what is needful.\" On questions about whether those who surrendered would be tried or given amnesty, he said that things needed to be taken \"phase by phase\". \"The most important thing for us is to have them rehabilitated. Since they have shown remorse and come on board, I think it is our duty to ensure that we help them to become very productive members of this great country,\" the army spokesman said. - Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education - Boko Haram means \"Western education is forbidden\" in the Hausa language - Launched military operations in 2009 - Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, hundreds abducted, including at least 200 schoolgirls - Joined so-called Islamic State, now calls itself IS's \"West African province\" - Seized large area in north-east, where it declared caliphate - Regional force has retaken most territory last year 'Boko Haram took my children' Town divided by Boko Haram legacy On patrol against Boko Haram Who are Boko Haram? Our reporter says as commendable as this arrangement is, there are many who doubt if communities are ready to wholly accept them. It is likely that many victims of the cruelty of these former gunmen may find it difficult to forgive, he says. Meanwhile, a committee set up by Nigeria's defence minister is due to submit its report how areas liberated from Boko Haram should be handed back to civilian authorities. At the moment the military is solely in control of most of the towns and villages recaptured from Boko Haram. The majority of those displaced by the conflict have yet to return to their homes.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2122, "answer_start": 1093, "text": "Army spokesman Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar said there would be two or three camps by the military - the locations of which would be made public when they were officially launched in the next few months. \"They will be very big and all facilities will put in place... to rehabilitate them to become good members of society,\" he told our correspondent. Other government agencies would be involved in this new de-radicalisation programme, he added. Asked if the repentant militants would be paid whilst they underwent training, Brig Gen Abubakar said: \"I believe the government will definitely ask the relevant agencies to do what is needful.\" On questions about whether those who surrendered would be tried or given amnesty, he said that things needed to be taken \"phase by phase\". \"The most important thing for us is to have them rehabilitated. Since they have shown remorse and come on board, I think it is our duty to ensure that we help them to become very productive members of this great country,\" the army spokesman said." } ], "id": "858_0", "question": "Difficult to forgive?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Thirty years ago, Beijing's Tiananmen Square became the focus for large-scale protests, which were crushed by China's Communist rulers. The events produced one of the most iconic photos of the 20th Century - a lone protester standing in front of a line of army tanks. In the 1980s, China was going through huge changes. The ruling Communist Party began to allow some private companies and foreign investment. Leader Deng Xiaoping hoped to boost the economy and raise living standards. However, the move brought with it corruption, while at the same time raising hopes for greater political openness. The Communist Party was divided between those urging more rapid change and hardliners wanting to maintain strict state control. In the mid-1980s, student-led protests started. Those taking part included people who had lived abroad and been exposed to new ideas and higher standards of living. In spring 1989, the protests grew, with demands for greater political freedom. Protesters were spurred on by the death of a leading politician, Hu Yaobang, who had overseen some of the economic and political changes. He had been pushed out of a top position in the party by political opponents two years earlier. Tens of thousands gathered on the day of Hu's funeral, in April, calling for greater freedom of speech and less censorship. In the following weeks, protesters gathered in Tiananmen Square, with numbers estimated to be up to one million at their largest. The square is one of Beijing's most famous landmarks. At first, the government took no direct action against the protesters. Party officials disagreed on how to respond, some backing concessions, others wanting to take a harder line. The hardliners won the debate, and in the last two weeks of May, martial law was declared in Beijing. On 3 to 4 June, troops began to move towards Tiananmen Square, opening fire, crushing and arresting protesters to regain control of the area. On 5 June, a man faced down a line of tanks heading away from the square. He was carrying two shopping bags and was filmed walking to block the tanks from moving past. He was pulled away by two men. It's not known what happened to him but he's become the defining image of the protests. No-one knows for sure how many people were killed. At the end of June 1989, the Chinese government said 200 civilians and several dozen security personnel had died. Other estimates have ranged from hundreds to many thousands. In 2017, newly released UK documents revealed that a diplomatic cable from then British Ambassador to China, Sir Alan Donald, had said that 10,000 had died. Discussion of the events that took place in Tiananmen Square is highly sensitive in China. Posts relating to the massacres are regularly removed from the internet, tightly controlled by the government. So, for a younger generation who didn't live through the protests, there is little awareness about what happened.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 892, "answer_start": 268, "text": "In the 1980s, China was going through huge changes. The ruling Communist Party began to allow some private companies and foreign investment. Leader Deng Xiaoping hoped to boost the economy and raise living standards. However, the move brought with it corruption, while at the same time raising hopes for greater political openness. The Communist Party was divided between those urging more rapid change and hardliners wanting to maintain strict state control. In the mid-1980s, student-led protests started. Those taking part included people who had lived abroad and been exposed to new ideas and higher standards of living." } ], "id": "859_0", "question": "What led up to the events?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1937, "answer_start": 1514, "text": "At first, the government took no direct action against the protesters. Party officials disagreed on how to respond, some backing concessions, others wanting to take a harder line. The hardliners won the debate, and in the last two weeks of May, martial law was declared in Beijing. On 3 to 4 June, troops began to move towards Tiananmen Square, opening fire, crushing and arresting protesters to regain control of the area." } ], "id": "859_1", "question": "What was the government's response?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2224, "answer_start": 1938, "text": "On 5 June, a man faced down a line of tanks heading away from the square. He was carrying two shopping bags and was filmed walking to block the tanks from moving past. He was pulled away by two men. It's not known what happened to him but he's become the defining image of the protests." } ], "id": "859_2", "question": "Who was Tank Man?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2607, "answer_start": 2225, "text": "No-one knows for sure how many people were killed. At the end of June 1989, the Chinese government said 200 civilians and several dozen security personnel had died. Other estimates have ranged from hundreds to many thousands. In 2017, newly released UK documents revealed that a diplomatic cable from then British Ambassador to China, Sir Alan Donald, had said that 10,000 had died." } ], "id": "859_3", "question": "How many people died in the protests?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2923, "answer_start": 2608, "text": "Discussion of the events that took place in Tiananmen Square is highly sensitive in China. Posts relating to the massacres are regularly removed from the internet, tightly controlled by the government. So, for a younger generation who didn't live through the protests, there is little awareness about what happened." } ], "id": "859_4", "question": "Do people in China know what happened?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Women whose body clocks mean they are \"morning people\" have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, say UK researchers. The team at the University of Bristol says the reason why still needs to be uncovered. It adds the findings are important as they may affect every woman's risk. Experts said the study presented at the NCRI Cancer Conference in Glasgow added to a growing understanding of the importance of sleep in all health. Everybody has a body clock, which governs how the body works in a roughly 24-hour pattern. It's also known as a circadian rhythm. It affects everything from when we sleep, to our mood and even our risk of a heart attack. But not everybody's clock tells the same time. Morning people or \"larks\" are early to rise, peak earlier in the day and are tired earlier in the evening. Evening people or \"owls\" find it harder to get up in the morning, are productive later into the evening and prefer to go to sleep late. Take our quiz to find out whether you are a morning type, or an evening owl. The researchers think so. They used a clever new way of analysing data - called Mendelian randomisation. They looked at 341 snippets of DNA (the instructions for the human body) that control whether we are likely to be a lark or an owl. They used this knowledge to perform an experiment on more than 180,000 women in the UK Biobank project and nearly 230,000 women in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium study. They showed people genetically programmed to be \"larks\" were less likely to have breast cancer than those programmed to be owls. Because these bits of DNA are set at birth and are not linked to other known causes of cancer, like obesity, it means the researchers are reasonably confident body clocks are involved in cancer. Around one in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. But this study only looked at a small, eight-year snapshot of a woman's life. In that time it showed two in 100 owls developed breast cancer compared with one in 100 larks. Dr Rebecca Richmond, one of the researchers from the University of Bristol, told the BBC: \"The findings are potentially very important because sleep is ubiquitous and easily modified. \"Previous research has looked at the impact of shift work, but this is showing there may be a risk factor for all women.\" Age and family history are some of the main risk factors for breast cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, around a quarter of cases might be preventable. It's not that simple. Dr Richmond said it was said it was still too soon to give clear advice to women. She told the BBC: \"We still need to get at what makes an evening person more at risk than a morning person... we need to unpick the relationship.\" Is it something about the body clock itself? Or do \"owls\" cause damage by living out of time with their body clocks in order to get up and go to work? Does the body clock affect hormone levels to alter cancer risk, or the immune system, or metabolism? There are still many unanswered questions. Science is never 100% sure, but this fits with an emerging picture. The World Health Organization already says disruption to people's body clocks because of shift work is probably linked to cancer risk. Dr Richard Berks, from Breast Cancer Now, said: \"These intriguing results add to the growing body of evidence that there is some overlap between the genetics of when we'd prefer to sleep and our breast cancer risk, but more research is required to unravel the specifics of this relationship.\" Similar studies have revealed a role for sleep preferences and mental health, including schizophrenia risk. Cliona Kirwan, consultant breast surgeon and researcher at the University of Manchester, said: \"The use of Mendelian randomisation in this study enables the researchers to examine the causal effect on breast cancer of different sleep patterns. \"These are interesting findings that provide further evidence of how our body clock and our natural sleep preference is implicated in the onset of breast cancer.\" The findings have been published on researchers' website bioRxiv but have not yet gone through scientific peer review. Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1759, "answer_start": 1020, "text": "The researchers think so. They used a clever new way of analysing data - called Mendelian randomisation. They looked at 341 snippets of DNA (the instructions for the human body) that control whether we are likely to be a lark or an owl. They used this knowledge to perform an experiment on more than 180,000 women in the UK Biobank project and nearly 230,000 women in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium study. They showed people genetically programmed to be \"larks\" were less likely to have breast cancer than those programmed to be owls. Because these bits of DNA are set at birth and are not linked to other known causes of cancer, like obesity, it means the researchers are reasonably confident body clocks are involved in cancer." } ], "id": "860_0", "question": "And this is involved in breast cancer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2477, "answer_start": 1760, "text": "Around one in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. But this study only looked at a small, eight-year snapshot of a woman's life. In that time it showed two in 100 owls developed breast cancer compared with one in 100 larks. Dr Rebecca Richmond, one of the researchers from the University of Bristol, told the BBC: \"The findings are potentially very important because sleep is ubiquitous and easily modified. \"Previous research has looked at the impact of shift work, but this is showing there may be a risk factor for all women.\" Age and family history are some of the main risk factors for breast cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, around a quarter of cases might be preventable." } ], "id": "860_1", "question": "How big is the effect?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3023, "answer_start": 2478, "text": "It's not that simple. Dr Richmond said it was said it was still too soon to give clear advice to women. She told the BBC: \"We still need to get at what makes an evening person more at risk than a morning person... we need to unpick the relationship.\" Is it something about the body clock itself? Or do \"owls\" cause damage by living out of time with their body clocks in order to get up and go to work? Does the body clock affect hormone levels to alter cancer risk, or the immune system, or metabolism? There are still many unanswered questions." } ], "id": "860_2", "question": "So will a good night's sleep stop me getting cancer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4178, "answer_start": 3024, "text": "Science is never 100% sure, but this fits with an emerging picture. The World Health Organization already says disruption to people's body clocks because of shift work is probably linked to cancer risk. Dr Richard Berks, from Breast Cancer Now, said: \"These intriguing results add to the growing body of evidence that there is some overlap between the genetics of when we'd prefer to sleep and our breast cancer risk, but more research is required to unravel the specifics of this relationship.\" Similar studies have revealed a role for sleep preferences and mental health, including schizophrenia risk. Cliona Kirwan, consultant breast surgeon and researcher at the University of Manchester, said: \"The use of Mendelian randomisation in this study enables the researchers to examine the causal effect on breast cancer of different sleep patterns. \"These are interesting findings that provide further evidence of how our body clock and our natural sleep preference is implicated in the onset of breast cancer.\" The findings have been published on researchers' website bioRxiv but have not yet gone through scientific peer review. Follow James on Twitter." } ], "id": "860_3", "question": "Are the researchers right?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "When Claire Bell became pregnant she paid for a test that would indicate whether the baby had Down's Syndrome - and agreed to be screened for some other rare conditions at the same time. Not long afterwards, writes the BBC's Charlotte Hayward, she received what appeared to be terrible news. For five years, Claire Bell's husband was treated for two types of cancer. When it finally came to an end the couple decided to try having a baby through IVF, using some sperm her husband had had frozen and stored before he had chemotherapy. On the first round, at the age of 41, she became pregnant - and felt incredibly lucky. \"It was this miraculous pregnancy,\" she says. \"It had worked with the first embryo.\" The couple decided that they wanted to know if there was a chance that the baby had Down's Syndrome and privately paid for a blood test known as NIPT - a non-invasive prenatal test - which examines the DNA of tiny particles of the placenta circulating in the mother's blood. \"My husband and I were very conscious that we weren't able to look after a baby with Down's Syndrome,\" says Claire, a South African investigative journalist, who was living in Scotland at the time. \"We just felt we didn't have the emotional reserves, after dealing with five years of cancer treatment.\" She signed up for the test at a private IVF clinic. As she did so, the clinician asked her if she wanted to tick a box which meant that the placenta DNA would also be tested for other rare chromosomal conditions. \"They said to me, 'Well if you don't tick it then we can't tell you the gender of the child.' I didn't want to know the gender but my husband did, so I thought, 'All right then.' \"At that point I thought, 'Is the onus on me to ask more questions about that box?' But I was a pregnant mum in a vulnerable state - I wasn't acting like I normally would. Really, they should have told me what that box was about.\" (In a statement, the clinic Claire went to says its patients are \"explicitly counselled on the use of the test and possible outcomes\" and that they are given a full explanation of the conditions NIPT may detect - as well as an explanation of the test's limitations.) The clinic told Claire that she'd get an email if everything was OK, but they'd ring if there was something to discuss. Just over a week later, while Claire and her husband were on holiday in France, the phone rang. Claire was in the shower at the time, and hurried out to answer the call. \"I ran towards this phone... and while I was standing there, shivering in a towel, the doctor told me that my baby had a chance of having Turner Syndrome.\" Turner syndrome is a chromosomal condition that only affects girls. There are a number of potential symptoms, including being short and having fertility problems. But the information Claire was sent by the clinic painted a very grim picture of life for people with Turner Syndrome. It also talked about the test's reliability. \"I just remember thinking this is science, this is fact... I couldn't stop crying, I couldn't walk more than 200m at a time, I just felt hopeless.\" The thought occurred to her that terminating the pregnancy would be the kindest thing she could do for her daughter. But later in the day, Claire spoke to a friend who encouraged her to find out more about the test. And when she did, she found that her result might not be as troubling as it seemed. Listen to Charlotte Hayward's report into NIPT on the Today programme on Friday 8 February, or catch up later on iPlayer NIPT has been available privately in the UK since 2012 and is available to any woman or couple who want to pay the bill of up to PS500. It's mainly used to screen for Down's Syndrome and two other chromosomal anomalies, Edwards Syndrome and Patau Syndrome. Medical professionals agree that, when used correctly, it is pretty reliable as a test for these conditions. NIPT for Down's, Edwards and Patau syndromes has recently become available to pregnant women on the NHS in Wales who are considered to be in the higher chance category, and it has been promised to women in England in the same category in the near future. But when testing for other rarer conditions NIPT hasn't been subjected to rigorous clinical analysis. An article in the medical journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology argues that when NIPT is used to screen for these conditions, including Turner syndrome (when a girl has only one copy of the X chromosome) or Klinefelter syndrome (when a boy has two copies of the X chromosome and one Y chromosome) it has \"a high failure rate\" - a low detection rate and a high false positive rate. One of the authors of that report, Kypros Nicolaides, professor of foetal medicine at King's College Hospital, says that women who have received a disturbing NIPT result in a private clinic often fall back on the NHS for help. \"There is an ideology in the private sector that the more the better,\" he says. \"In the NIPT test they offer a whole range of conditions that they test for, for which we have no data about how effective and how worthwhile the method of screening is. There are many women that are having expanded tests, they come, they are extremely worried, they have an the invasive test which is what they wanted to avoid, and it shows that the result of the NIPT test is wrong.\" - In response to the increasing availability of the NIPT test, England's Care Quality Commission started carrying out inspections of clinics and hospitals in England - Health Improvement Scotland has also said it currently regulates two services which offer pre-natal testing - In a statement, the CQC says: \"We expect providers of NIPTs to ensure that women fully understand the procedure, know that it is not a diagnostic test, are informed about the possible outcomes, and that appropriate support is made available when delivering the test results. This includes facilitating access to counselling and other relevant services as well as medical follow-up where this is needed. Last year we began our planned programme of diagnostic and imaging service inspections and services, which includes those independent providers offering NIPTs\" - The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has outlined a number of areas where it has concerns, including: misleading use of statistics; poor information about the conditions being tested for; the use of NIPT to test for conditions where the accuracy of the test is low or unknown; lack of pre-test counselling and follow-up support Want help? Contact the Turner Syndrome Support Society See also: NHS information on Turner Syndrome The invasive test Kypros Nicolaides is referring to either involves a placenta biopsy, or amniocentesis - sampling of the fluid in the amniotic sac - both of which carry a small risk of miscarriage. Claire Bell did not have an invasive test, because the more she read about the NIPT test as a method of screening for Turner Syndrome the more sceptical she became. She read on the internet about women whose babies had been judged to be at high risk of Turner Syndrome but who had turned out not to have it. She also read about one woman whose doctor had told her the test was so unreliable you might as well flip a coin. Then she read that the positive predictive value (PPV) of the test for Turner Syndrome - the proportion of positive results that are indeed true positives - could be as low as 40% for a 41-year-old woman. She called back the doctor who had told her about her result on the phone and asked if this could be correct. \"Yes, but we don't know,\" he said. Still at a loss about what to do for the best, Claire called her aunt. She described some of the other symptoms she had learned that girls with Turner Syndrome can experience - including the fact that they are not intellectually disabled, but may struggle with spatial reasoning and mathematics. \"You can't terminate a baby because she might be short, flat-chested and can't do maths,\" her aunt said. \"And besides, we are from strong Yorkshire stock. You know that. Don't let them stick a needle into you.\" Slipping into journalist mode, Claire talked to the laboratory that tested her blood and asked how often they followed up to find out whether a baby given a test result indicating a high risk of Turner Syndrome actually turned out to have it. The answer was, they didn't do this. The scientist she spoke to at the lab noted that she didn't seem to have been given the recommended pre-test counselling, so she rang her clinic to ask why this was. Her doctor replied that in the US she would have been given four hours of counselling before the test but that in the UK there weren't enough genetic counsellors. (The clinic Claire attended says patients are given advice and counselling on the false positive statistics for the test. It adds that it \"informs patients of all test results in a secure, sensitive and supportive manner\" and that while it does not provide specific genetic counselling, it supports patients in collaboration with a consultant obstetrician on aftercare and referral pathways.) Continuing to dig, and reading articles in medical journals, she was astonished to find that the very company that invented the test had itself suggested that it may not be appropriate for general prenatal screening for conditions such as Turner Syndrome. Instead, it said, it \"may be best utilised\" in cases where there was a family history of a similar chromosomal anomaly, or where an ultrasound scan had given reason to suppose that such an anomaly could be present. \"The thought that I could have terminated this pregnancy, that it crossed my mind to terminate, that is...\" she says, pausing to find the right words. \"It's just so important that women know that this test has too many false positives.\" In June 2018 Claire's daughter, Fintry, was born. She is small, but there are short genes in the family. She shows no symptoms of Turner Syndrome. Claire will take Fintry for a blood test after her first birthday to find out if she does have the condition, but not before. \"I wanted her to be a whole person in my mind, for me to know her totally before she gets a condition attached to her,\" Claire says. \"She is healthy, beautiful and full of smiles.\" In its statement, the clinic says it \"supports best evidence-based practice for all patients, and believes that it continues to operate ethically, professionally and in the best interest of the patient\". It adds: \"We will continue to work to professional standards while enabling men and women the right to choose.\" Analysis by Robert Cuffe, BBC News head of statistics If a condition is very rare, the majority of positive screening tests are health scares, and so the technical accuracy rates are misleading. A test result can sound like a near certain diagnosis when the test says it's 95% accurate. But in many cases, it is still most likely that your child is perfectly fine. \"Ninety-five per cent accurate\" means something to regulators and statisticians, but doesn't tell you the chance that your positive result will lead to a diagnosis. It means, for example, that five out of every 100 healthy people tested will get a health scare: a false positive. But if it's a rare condition - say less than one-in-100 - then most of the positive test results will be health scares. Medical professionals agree that for Down's Syndrome and some other conditions, the technical accuracy of the test is the right level to give helpful guidance. But that isn't the case for rarer conditions like Turner Syndrome. So ask your doctor before making any big decisions and, if you are tempted to ask Dr Google, look for how common the condition is before jumping to any conclusions. Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 11785, "answer_start": 10551, "text": "Analysis by Robert Cuffe, BBC News head of statistics If a condition is very rare, the majority of positive screening tests are health scares, and so the technical accuracy rates are misleading. A test result can sound like a near certain diagnosis when the test says it's 95% accurate. But in many cases, it is still most likely that your child is perfectly fine. \"Ninety-five per cent accurate\" means something to regulators and statisticians, but doesn't tell you the chance that your positive result will lead to a diagnosis. It means, for example, that five out of every 100 healthy people tested will get a health scare: a false positive. But if it's a rare condition - say less than one-in-100 - then most of the positive test results will be health scares. Medical professionals agree that for Down's Syndrome and some other conditions, the technical accuracy of the test is the right level to give helpful guidance. But that isn't the case for rarer conditions like Turner Syndrome. So ask your doctor before making any big decisions and, if you are tempted to ask Dr Google, look for how common the condition is before jumping to any conclusions. Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter." } ], "id": "861_0", "question": "What should I think if my NIPT says \"Turner\"?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "As the race to be the next Tory leader is whittled down to the final two candidates, here is what a Boris Johnson or a Jeremy Hunt premiership could mean for Northern Ireland. Mr Johnson's main link to Northern Ireland used to be his red buses. In 2013, the then London mayor opened a Wrightbus plant in Ballymena, County Antrim, where parts for them are made. Few would have bet that within six years he would be a frontrunner to become prime minister. Battling him for the keys to Number 10 is Mr Hunt, the foreign secretary who insists he's best placed to strengthen the union of the United Kingdom. But what are their positions on central issues such as the political crisis in Stormont, the Tories' confidence-and-supply partners the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Irish border question? This will be key for whoever takes over in Number 10 but both candidates face an uphill battle to get their preferred Brexit deal through Parliament. The backstop is the insurance policy to maintain a seamless border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: opposition to it brought Theresa May's time in office to an abrupt end. Mr Johnson has referred to it as a \"monstrosity\" that wipes out the UK's sovereignty and he has called for the backstop to be removed from the withdrawal deal. He believes the EU can be persuaded to reopen the agreement, but says the UK should still prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Mr Hunt has said the EU accepts that the backstop will never be approved by Parliament. He maintains he has had conversations with European leaders who \"understand that the backstop will not get through Parliament - they may not have understood that before\". He proposes sending a new negotiating team team to Brussels, which would include representatives of the European Research Group - the group of Conservative MPs who support harder forms of Brexit - and members of the DUP. Many in the Conservative Party believe a new personality at the top can change hearts and minds in Europe but the EU has insisted that the backstop is not up for renegotiation. The DUP is keeping quiet about who it would like to see move into Downing Street. The party is no stranger to the \"Boris effect\": the Conservative MP was the keynote speaker at the DUP conference last year. But it will be wary of broken promises. At the conference, he called for the backstop to be \"junked\" but then voted for the agreement - including the backstop - during the third meaningful vote in March. There's also the matter of renewing the confidence-and-supply pact. The Conservatives needed the votes of the DUP's 10 MPs in order to have a working Commons majority after the 2017 Westminster election but had to agree to an extra PS1bn in spending for Northern Ireland. Some Johnson-backing Tory MPs, like Daniel Kawczynski, want the next PM to call a fresh election rather than continue to be at the DUP's \"beck and call\". While the DUP voted against Theresa May's Brexit deal and threatened the government several times over the backstop, it is worth saying that the influence the DUP wields at Westminster is very valuable. It will want to work with whoever becomes prime minister. Jeremy Hunt would not be as closely aligned to the DUP as other members of his party. But he has sought to paint himself as the candidate best placed to strengthen the union and win the backing of the DUP with a new Brexit deal. The latest talks to try and restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland began in May. Although talks haven't broken down, there are no signs of a political breakthrough any time soon. If Boris Johnson becomes PM he is likely to replace the Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley - a Theresa May loyalist - with someone new. How could that affect the ongoing talks process, which Mrs Bradley has been overseeing? Unlike unsuccessful candidate Michael Gove, who said he would personally lead talks to restore the Stormont administration, Jeremy Hunt has not made much mention of the process. It is not clear if he would replace his cabinet colleague Mrs Bradley in the Northern Ireland brief. Earlier this year, Mr Hunt said the UK was wholly \"committed\" to the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement and many of the parties in Northern Ireland would be keen to see him live up to that. A fresh pair of eyes could possibly help move the Stormont negotiations along - but it's likely to prove as difficult to resolve as Brexit.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3408, "answer_start": 2082, "text": "The DUP is keeping quiet about who it would like to see move into Downing Street. The party is no stranger to the \"Boris effect\": the Conservative MP was the keynote speaker at the DUP conference last year. But it will be wary of broken promises. At the conference, he called for the backstop to be \"junked\" but then voted for the agreement - including the backstop - during the third meaningful vote in March. There's also the matter of renewing the confidence-and-supply pact. The Conservatives needed the votes of the DUP's 10 MPs in order to have a working Commons majority after the 2017 Westminster election but had to agree to an extra PS1bn in spending for Northern Ireland. Some Johnson-backing Tory MPs, like Daniel Kawczynski, want the next PM to call a fresh election rather than continue to be at the DUP's \"beck and call\". While the DUP voted against Theresa May's Brexit deal and threatened the government several times over the backstop, it is worth saying that the influence the DUP wields at Westminster is very valuable. It will want to work with whoever becomes prime minister. Jeremy Hunt would not be as closely aligned to the DUP as other members of his party. But he has sought to paint himself as the candidate best placed to strengthen the union and win the backing of the DUP with a new Brexit deal." } ], "id": "862_0", "question": "Mixed feelings from the DUP?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia has strongly denied ever apologising for violating South Korean airspace, as the fall-out from an incident involving warplanes from four countries continues. South Korea's presidential office earlier said a Russian official had expressed \"deep regret\" for Tuesday's aerial intrusion. It says a Russian aircraft twice violated its territorial airspace during a joint exercise with China. But Moscow denies any intrusion. \"We have seen statements in the South Korean media quoting words allegedly said by our acting military attache,\" a spokesman for Russia's embassy in South Korea said, according to Interfax news agency. \"We have paid attention to these statements. In this connection we can speak for ourselves that there is a lot in them which does not correspond to reality.\" South Korean jets fired nearly 400 warning shots and 20 flares on Tuesday near the Russian surveillance plane that both it and Japan said flew near disputed islands in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, that the two countries claim. - What are the Dokdo/Takeshima islands? On Wednesday, South Korea's government said that a Russian official had admitted the violation on Tuesday, saying it was unintended and that Moscow would immediately launch an investigation into the case, which the official blamed on a \"technical glitch\". \"Moscow said if the aircraft flew according to an initially planned route, this incident would not have occurred,\" a spokesman for the presidential Blue House, Yoon Do-han, told reporters. Meanwhile, China has defended the exercise, which was the first ever joint air patrol between it and Russia. Defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters they \"strictly abided by the relevant regulations of international law and did not enter the airspace of other countries\". Japan also scrambled bombers during Tuesday's incident. The alleged incursion happened over the disputed Dokdo/Takeshima islands, which are occupied by South Korea but also claimed by Japan. South Korea's military said that in total three Russian and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday morning. One of those planes - an A-50 Russian surveillance plane - also violated its territorial airspace twice, it said, before leaving. South Korea said its jets fired flares and machine-gun warning shots when the Russian plane intruded. It also deployed F-15 and F-16 planes to intercept it. Russian and Chinese bombers and reconnaissance planes have occasionally entered the zone in recent years, but this is the first incident of its kind between Russia and South Korea. Russia's defence ministry denied any airspace violation and said it did not recognise the KADIZ. Russia also accused the South Korean pilots of \"hooliganism in the air\", saying that the patrol had been more than 25km from the Dokdo/Takeshima islands. Lt Gen Kobylash said Russia had complained to South Korea about its crews' \"illegal and dangerous actions\". The government in Tokyo lodged a complaint against both Russia and South Korea. Because it claims sovereignty over the islands, Japan's government said that Russia had violated its airspace. It also said that South Korea's response had been extremely regrettable. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: \"In light of Japan's stance regarding sovereignty over Takeshima, the South Korean military aircraft's having carried out warning shots is totally unacceptable and extremely regrettable.\" This first \"joint air patrol\" involving Russian and Chinese long-range aircraft in the Asia Pacific region, sends a powerful signal of the developing military relationship between Moscow and Beijing. This still falls short of a formal alliance but their joint exercises are larger and more sophisticated. In turn this is a reflection of the ever closer economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries who, though they still have points of tension, are drawing ever closer together. They broadly share a similar world view, hostile to Western liberal democracy, eager to promote an alternative model, protective of their own national sovereignty, and often willing to ride rough-shod over that of others. This poses a huge challenge for US strategy. The nightmare in Washington is an ever closer relationship between an assertive, but declining Russia, and a rising China, which looks set to overtake the US as a technological and economic power in the years ahead. An air defence identification zone (ADIZ) is an airspace which a country seeks to monitor on grounds of national security. Overseas aircraft should identify themselves before entering an air defence zone. An ADIZ usually extends well beyond national airspace to allow for sufficient warning of a potential threat. But ADIZs are not governed by international law and the self-defined boundaries can be disputed or overlap with other countries' claims, which may lead to violations. This is the case in the East China Sea region, where South Korea, China and Japan all have overlapping ADIZs. In this case, South Korea says Russia went beyond its ADIZ and into the territorial airspace surrounding the islands. But other nations do not recognise South Korea's claim of sovereignty. - Known as Dokdo (Solitary islands) in Korea, Takeshima (Bamboo islands) in Japan - Claimed by Japan and South Korea, but occupied by South Korea since 1954 - Just 230,000 sq m in size", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2983, "answer_start": 1854, "text": "The alleged incursion happened over the disputed Dokdo/Takeshima islands, which are occupied by South Korea but also claimed by Japan. South Korea's military said that in total three Russian and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday morning. One of those planes - an A-50 Russian surveillance plane - also violated its territorial airspace twice, it said, before leaving. South Korea said its jets fired flares and machine-gun warning shots when the Russian plane intruded. It also deployed F-15 and F-16 planes to intercept it. Russian and Chinese bombers and reconnaissance planes have occasionally entered the zone in recent years, but this is the first incident of its kind between Russia and South Korea. Russia's defence ministry denied any airspace violation and said it did not recognise the KADIZ. Russia also accused the South Korean pilots of \"hooliganism in the air\", saying that the patrol had been more than 25km from the Dokdo/Takeshima islands. Lt Gen Kobylash said Russia had complained to South Korea about its crews' \"illegal and dangerous actions\"." } ], "id": "863_0", "question": "What happened on Tuesday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3488, "answer_start": 2984, "text": "The government in Tokyo lodged a complaint against both Russia and South Korea. Because it claims sovereignty over the islands, Japan's government said that Russia had violated its airspace. It also said that South Korea's response had been extremely regrettable. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: \"In light of Japan's stance regarding sovereignty over Takeshima, the South Korean military aircraft's having carried out warning shots is totally unacceptable and extremely regrettable.\"" } ], "id": "863_1", "question": "How has Japan responded?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5240, "answer_start": 4461, "text": "An air defence identification zone (ADIZ) is an airspace which a country seeks to monitor on grounds of national security. Overseas aircraft should identify themselves before entering an air defence zone. An ADIZ usually extends well beyond national airspace to allow for sufficient warning of a potential threat. But ADIZs are not governed by international law and the self-defined boundaries can be disputed or overlap with other countries' claims, which may lead to violations. This is the case in the East China Sea region, where South Korea, China and Japan all have overlapping ADIZs. In this case, South Korea says Russia went beyond its ADIZ and into the territorial airspace surrounding the islands. But other nations do not recognise South Korea's claim of sovereignty." } ], "id": "863_2", "question": "What are air defence zones?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pope Francis has changed the teachings of the Catholic faith to officially oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, the Vatican has said. The Catechism of the Church, a codified doctrine which sums up teachings, had previously stated that the death penalty could be used in some cases. It now says it is \"inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\". Pope Francis has spoken out against executions in the past. Last October, he had said the Church's policy on the death penalty was one area where teaching was not static and could change with modern concerns. The text of the catechism was first set by Pope John Paul II in October 1992, and earlier stated that the death penalty was \"an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good\". However, the new text says there is \"an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes\". It also argues that today's more effective detention methods protect citizens and \"do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption\". The Church will now work with determination for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, a statement from the Holy See said. By James Reynolds, BBC News, Rome The Catholic Church may base its faith on an unchanging Bible, but that does not stop the institution from updating some of its most important teachings. Centuries ago, popes called Christians to Holy War, commanded their own armies, and showed little anxiety about the killing of their enemies. In modern times, popes have re-invented themselves as symbols of global peace. But until now the Church had taught that the death penalty was \"an acceptable, albeit extreme means of safeguarding the common good\". Pope Francis - who has made mercy a theme of his papacy - has now decided that this has to change by ruling the death penalty \"inadmissible\". This may put the Church in direct conflict with conservative Catholics in the US who insist that capital punishment is justified. Historically, the Church has mostly been unopposed to the death penalty, including into the 20th Century. In 1952, Pope Pius XII said it was not a violation of the universal right to life. Pope John Paul II argued for imprisonment over execution wherever possible, although Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote that the death penalty could be permissible. The death penalty is still legal in 53 countries around the world. In the United States, where 22% of the population are Catholic, execution is still legal in 31 states. It is still also legal in Cuba, Dominica and Uganda - where about half of their populations are Catholic. The only place in Europe where it is still legal is Belarus, which has a sizeable Catholic minority of about 7% of the population. Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Benin, where significant chunks of the population follow Catholicism, have all outlawed the death penalty in recent years.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2119, "answer_start": 1305, "text": "By James Reynolds, BBC News, Rome The Catholic Church may base its faith on an unchanging Bible, but that does not stop the institution from updating some of its most important teachings. Centuries ago, popes called Christians to Holy War, commanded their own armies, and showed little anxiety about the killing of their enemies. In modern times, popes have re-invented themselves as symbols of global peace. But until now the Church had taught that the death penalty was \"an acceptable, albeit extreme means of safeguarding the common good\". Pope Francis - who has made mercy a theme of his papacy - has now decided that this has to change by ruling the death penalty \"inadmissible\". This may put the Church in direct conflict with conservative Catholics in the US who insist that capital punishment is justified." } ], "id": "864_0", "question": "A collision course with conservatives in the US?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3057, "answer_start": 2499, "text": "The death penalty is still legal in 53 countries around the world. In the United States, where 22% of the population are Catholic, execution is still legal in 31 states. It is still also legal in Cuba, Dominica and Uganda - where about half of their populations are Catholic. The only place in Europe where it is still legal is Belarus, which has a sizeable Catholic minority of about 7% of the population. Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Benin, where significant chunks of the population follow Catholicism, have all outlawed the death penalty in recent years." } ], "id": "864_1", "question": "Where is the death penalty still legal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Japan will remove South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners, deepening a bitter row between the two countries. The decision to strike South Korea off its so-called \"white list\" puts fresh trading restrictions on the country. South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday condemned Tokyo's \"selfish\" act and threatened possible retaliation. The trade spat, which includes curbs on tech supplies, has sparked fears over risks to the global electronics sector. The escalating dispute has been fuelled by diplomatic tensions over compensation for wartime labour. Japan has said the measures are based on national security concerns, and also address Seoul's inadequate export controls. During a televised cabinet meeting, Mr Moon said Tokyo's \"selfish act will inflict tremendous damage on the world economy by disrupting global supply chains\". \"Responsibility for what is going to happen next also lies squarely with the Japanese government. \"Though Japan is an economic powerhouse, if it were to damage our economy, we likewise have countermeasures to implement in kind,\" the president said. South Korea's ruling Democratic Party also described the moves as \"all out declaration of economic war\". Tokyo is due to remove Seoul from the white list later this month. After that, Japanese exporters must apply for clearance to export a wide range of goods to South Korea. It is the first country to be removed from Japan's list of trusted trading partners, which currently has 27 nations, including Germany, the UK and the US. The decision to strip Seoul of its preferred trade status comes one month after Japan tightened rules on the export of materials crucial for South Korean tech manufacturers. Those restrictions, on products needed to make display panels and memory chips, have worried Seoul over the risks to its already slowing economy. If you start seeing a price increase for your smartphone, your laptop or even your television, this trade row could be to blame. South Korean tech firms supply over half of the world's semiconductors and display screens for these devices. Japan's decision to strip Seoul of its fast-track trade status could affect global supply. Millions of South Koreans are boycotting Japanese goods over the dispute, and several protests have been held throughout the country. A South Korean man set himself on fire yesterday in the centre of Seoul. Supermarket shelves are being emptied of Japanese goods. Defiant demonstrators post films of themselves destroying their own Japanese cars. This is just the start. But the problem is political too. The US relies on Japan and South Korea to provide a united front as it tries to apply maximum pressure on North Korea and combat a deepening alliance between Russia and China. The fear is that this trade row will escalate leading to a more fractured and less secure east Asian partnership. The two countries share a complicated history that includes Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910 until the defeat of Japan in 1945. Last year, South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to pay compensation to Koreans over forced wartime labour inflamed long-running tensions. The decisions drew condemnation from Japan, which argues the dispute was settled in 1965 when diplomatic ties were normalised between the neighbouring countries. Mitsubishi Heavy, one of the firms involved, has reportedly refused to comply with the court order, while two other companies have had their assets seized in South Korea.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1848, "answer_start": 1203, "text": "Tokyo is due to remove Seoul from the white list later this month. After that, Japanese exporters must apply for clearance to export a wide range of goods to South Korea. It is the first country to be removed from Japan's list of trusted trading partners, which currently has 27 nations, including Germany, the UK and the US. The decision to strip Seoul of its preferred trade status comes one month after Japan tightened rules on the export of materials crucial for South Korean tech manufacturers. Those restrictions, on products needed to make display panels and memory chips, have worried Seoul over the risks to its already slowing economy." } ], "id": "865_0", "question": "What will be the impact?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An American company has launched a rocket into space from New Zealand, the first from a private launch facility. Rocket Lab's 17m-long (56ft) Electron lifted off from the Mahia Peninsula, in the North Island, the firm said. The test flight was the first launch from New Zealand and is a major first step in an emerging market: launching cheap disposable rockets to carry small satellites and other payloads. The company plans to start frequent commercial launches later this year. Poor weather conditions had pushed the launch into the fourth day of a 10-day window and the Electron finally cleared its pad at 16:20 local time (04:20 GMT). The launch was conducted with no media or spectators permitted, but the company released a video of the lift-off on its Twitter page. \"It was a great flight,\" chief executive Peter Beck said in a statement after the launch, adding though that the rocket did not quite reach orbit, the path on which its future cargo would embark on its revolution of the Earth. \"We'll be investigating why, however reaching space in our first test puts us in an incredibly strong position to accelerate the commercial phase of our programme, deliver our customers to orbit and make space open for business.\" The test launch, one of three planned, did not carry a payload as such, although it was packed with sensor equipment to help engineers understand how the flight performed. Eventually, Rocket Lab says it will be lofting payloads up to 150kg (331lbs) into a 500km-high orbits that go from pole to pole. We're on the cusp of something quite exciting. Innovative companies are packaging really capable technologies into very small, low-cost satellites. Their data will drive myriad new services - from helping city officials keep track of urban development to giving farmers information about the performance of their crops. But if this new wave is to succeed it needs cheaper access to space. At the moment, the economics and flight schedules of these small satellites are still being defined by the availability and price of a ride on a big rocket. Rocket Lab aims to change that. And there are others, such as Richard Branson's LauncherOne project. Rocket Lab's second vehicle is already built and set to fly in the next couple of months. Keep an eye on the end of the year too because this US/NZ outfit even has a contract to send a small lander to the Moon. Rocket Lab's founder and chief executive Peter Beck is from New Zealand and the firm has a New Zealand subsidiary. The country has less air traffic, compared to say the US, so there is less need for flights to be rerouted every time a rocket is sent to space. New Zealand is also positioned well to get satellites into a north-to-south orbit around Earth. The trajectory takes the rocket out over open water, far from from people and property. The country hopes these favourable factors will help it become a low-cost space hub. Nice touch: The Electron has nine engines on its first stage and one engine on its second stage. They are called Rutherford engines - after the great New Zealand-born physicist Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937), who famously split the atom in 1917. Private and commercial rocket launches are becoming more and more common - the most famous example being Elon Musk and his SpaceX Falcon rockets. But the SpaceX vehicles are huge and are aimed at following in the footsteps of Nasa missions, delivering cargo to the international space station and eventually sending people to Mars. Rocket Lab's goal is to launch what, by comparison, is a tiny rocket for a fraction of the price, but with much more frequency. The Electron is a mere 17m long and 1.2m in diameter. Each launch only costs about $5m. Rocket Lab wants to conduct 50 or more a year. Just to put this all into perspective: SpaceX's current Falcon rocket is a towering 70m and can carry 22,800kg into low-Earth orbit for a standard price of $62m. Rocket Lab's website already allows you to book a slot for your satellite. The cheapest deal is a small cubesat on a rideshare option - prices start at $77,000 (PS59,280).", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3163, "answer_start": 2390, "text": "Rocket Lab's founder and chief executive Peter Beck is from New Zealand and the firm has a New Zealand subsidiary. The country has less air traffic, compared to say the US, so there is less need for flights to be rerouted every time a rocket is sent to space. New Zealand is also positioned well to get satellites into a north-to-south orbit around Earth. The trajectory takes the rocket out over open water, far from from people and property. The country hopes these favourable factors will help it become a low-cost space hub. Nice touch: The Electron has nine engines on its first stage and one engine on its second stage. They are called Rutherford engines - after the great New Zealand-born physicist Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937), who famously split the atom in 1917." } ], "id": "866_0", "question": "Why New Zealand?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4092, "answer_start": 3164, "text": "Private and commercial rocket launches are becoming more and more common - the most famous example being Elon Musk and his SpaceX Falcon rockets. But the SpaceX vehicles are huge and are aimed at following in the footsteps of Nasa missions, delivering cargo to the international space station and eventually sending people to Mars. Rocket Lab's goal is to launch what, by comparison, is a tiny rocket for a fraction of the price, but with much more frequency. The Electron is a mere 17m long and 1.2m in diameter. Each launch only costs about $5m. Rocket Lab wants to conduct 50 or more a year. Just to put this all into perspective: SpaceX's current Falcon rocket is a towering 70m and can carry 22,800kg into low-Earth orbit for a standard price of $62m. Rocket Lab's website already allows you to book a slot for your satellite. The cheapest deal is a small cubesat on a rideshare option - prices start at $77,000 (PS59,280)." } ], "id": "866_1", "question": "Why is the launch significant?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A new round of US election polls have shifted momentum behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the three-month dash to November. Seven national polls conducted after the close of the Democratic convention last week showed the former secretary of state receiving an average increase of nearly 7% compared with her pre-convention support. Mrs Clinton's favourability ratings have also improved, rising to an average of four points to 41% in recent polls. Though a larger share finds her unfavourable at an average of 53%, it is still four point less than it was before the convention. But do the recent batch of surveys paint an accurate picture of what will happen when voters head to the polls in November? Not quite, according to experts and pollsters. While Mrs Clinton has gained a comfortable lead over Mr Trump, it will take more than polling to determine who will end up in the Oval Office. With hundreds of surveys tracking the election, US polls tend to be good at gauging American opinion, according Clifford Young, the president of US Public Affairs for Ipsos polling. \"We have the luxury of large numbers,\" Mr Young said. \"That makes it better and easier for prediction.\" However, all of these polls use different methodologies to survey Americans and one of the biggest challenges is determining who actually will cast a ballot in November. \"Polling is very difficult these days,\" said Brendan Nyhan, an assistant professor of government at Dartmouth College. \"It's hard to get a representative sample of Americans to take a survey online or by phone, and even if you do get a good sample, it's difficult to tell who is actually going to turn out to vote.\" Research has also shown polls tend to be the least accurate the further they are from Election Day. During the early stages of the primary election, parties have yet to select their nominee while voters may not necessarily be paying attention to candidates or the issues, Mr Nyhan said. For example, polls conducted in January 2003 showed former President George W Bush ahead of Democratic Senator John Kerry by 8% and 17%. However, Mr Bush finished just 2.5% ahead of Mr Kerry in the popular vote, the slimmest margin of a re-elected president since Woodrow Wilson in 1916, according to Mr Nyhan. Accuracy improves in the weeks leading up to the election, when people are more likely to have made up their mind, research has shown. However, surveys released a couple of weeks after the Republican and Democratic conventions, which took place back-to-back last month, is when numbers start to become reliable, according to experts. Party conventions are often the starting point for wider public interest in campaigns, when party officials have an opportunity to rally behind their nominee and raise awareness on campaign issues. \"The conventions help remind people what the state of the country is and which side they're on,\" Mr Nyhan said. However, Sam Wang, a neuroscientist and election analyst at Princeton University, warns that only polls that specifically survey people at the beginning and end of either convention can provide an accurate picture. Though conventions are an important election marker, Mr Wang points out the public image of a candidate can change over the course of a campaign. Candidates often receives a \"bump\" or \"bounce\" in polls in the week following their party's convention. For instance, candidates who are underperforming before the convention tend to receive larger bumps while candidates who are running ahead of where they are expected to be often receive smaller bumps. The bumps, Mr Nyhan explained, helps bring the public closer to the expected outcome. \"The bounce itself doesn't necessarily determine the winner but it helps move it in the right direction,\" Mr Nyhan said. But convention bounces tend to be short-lived and mainly come from party supporters. Mr Trump enjoyed a brief post-convention bump before Mrs Clinton regained a solid lead at the end of the Democratic convention. In fact, sometimes bounces just show how likely people are willing to respond to a survey or say they will support a candidate, but that does not mean they will show up at the polls. While national polls can measure movement and general opinion, state polls provide a more nuanced glimpse of where voters stand. \"In a nation as ethnically diverse as the US, it's somewhat challenging to survey the whole country,\" Mr Wang said. Consider the Electoral College, which assigns each state a number of electors according to its size. The winning candidate needs to get a majority of 270 of the 538 electors to win the Electoral College vote. In majority of US states, the winner takes all of that state's electors, which is why state polls play an integral role in election projections. Particularly in the key battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, polls serve as an important bellwether to November's outcome. President Barack Obama won all three of those states in 2008 and 2012. While Mrs Clinton's bounce has given her a comfortable lead over Mr Trump, experts say whether it will stick will not be clear until the next couple of weeks. However, her rise may be meaningful because there are not many events between now and November that are likely to change people's minds, Mr Nyhan added. Still, the recent series of polls are more indicative in the short term of relative performance. Mrs Clinton's bump may suggest she had a better convention performance, Mr Young said. According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans said they were 45% more likely to vote for Mrs Clinton while 41% said they were less likely to cast their ballot for her after the Democratic convention. In contrast, Gallup found the 2016 Republican convention marked the first time in history in which more voters said they were less likely to vote for a party's nominee after its convention. In fact, 51% of those surveyed said they were less likely to vote for Mr Trump compared to 36% who said they were more likely to cast their ballot for him after the Republican convention. Though Mr Wang noted this year voter attention is unusually high, the last three elections have shown less movement in polls than in previous campaign years. \"Voter polarisation has gotten a lot stronger, which means voters are less and less likely to consider the other candidate,\" he said. In fact, one indication is the size of the convention bounces, which have become notably smaller in recent election history. According to Gallup, candidates saw an average convention bump of 6.2% from 1964 to 1992 while today they see an average of 3.8%. However, Mr Young emphasises this year is a disruptive election, with campaigns marked by a stronger protest vote. This year's forecasts must also take in account just how deeply unpopular Mrs Clinton and Mr Trump are compared with previous elections, which means it ultimately will rely on voter turnout. \"The desire to vote for neither candidate complicates things,\" Mr Young said. \"The protest vote can have potential to really impact the outcome when it comes to the election.\" As the 2016 presidential election has demonstrated, anything could happen in the race to the finish line.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3276, "answer_start": 2272, "text": "Accuracy improves in the weeks leading up to the election, when people are more likely to have made up their mind, research has shown. However, surveys released a couple of weeks after the Republican and Democratic conventions, which took place back-to-back last month, is when numbers start to become reliable, according to experts. Party conventions are often the starting point for wider public interest in campaigns, when party officials have an opportunity to rally behind their nominee and raise awareness on campaign issues. \"The conventions help remind people what the state of the country is and which side they're on,\" Mr Nyhan said. However, Sam Wang, a neuroscientist and election analyst at Princeton University, warns that only polls that specifically survey people at the beginning and end of either convention can provide an accurate picture. Though conventions are an important election marker, Mr Wang points out the public image of a candidate can change over the course of a campaign." } ], "id": "867_0", "question": "When do US presidential election polls become most predictive?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5000, "answer_start": 4185, "text": "While national polls can measure movement and general opinion, state polls provide a more nuanced glimpse of where voters stand. \"In a nation as ethnically diverse as the US, it's somewhat challenging to survey the whole country,\" Mr Wang said. Consider the Electoral College, which assigns each state a number of electors according to its size. The winning candidate needs to get a majority of 270 of the 538 electors to win the Electoral College vote. In majority of US states, the winner takes all of that state's electors, which is why state polls play an integral role in election projections. Particularly in the key battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, polls serve as an important bellwether to November's outcome. President Barack Obama won all three of those states in 2008 and 2012." } ], "id": "867_1", "question": "How important are state polls?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A man accused of abusing his daughter's university roommates has been arrested in the US and charged with extortion, sex trafficking and forced labour. Prosecutors say Lawrence \"Larry\" Ray extorted some $1m (PS771,000) from students at New York's Sarah Lawrence College, abusing them \"emotionally, physically, and sexually\". The charges were prompted by a story in New York magazine, which detailed the alleged workings of Mr Ray's \"cult\". Mr Ray, 60, has denied the allegations. He was arrested on Tuesday in the state of New Jersey. \"For the better part of the last decade, we allege there was no limit to the abuse Ray's victims received, and there is no way of knowing the amount of damage he may have caused them in the years to come,\" said FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney. According to New York magazine, the abuse started when Mr Ray showed up at his daughter's university in 2010, after being released from prison, where he had been serving time on charges related to a custody dispute. The publication said his daughter described him to friends as a \"truth-teller\" who had been unjustly imprisoned. A former FBI informant, Mr Ray had been a close associate of former New York police chief Bernard Kerik. The pair fell out and Mr Ray cooperated with authorities in a high-profile corruption case against Kerik. Mr Ray moved into his daughter's dormitory, where prosecutors say he presented himself as a father-figure and began conducting \"therapy\" sessions. During the sessions, he allegedly learned intimate details about the students' private lives and mental health struggles. He alienated several of them from their parents, persuading some to move into a Manhattan apartment and convincing them that they were \"broken\" and needed his help. After gaining their trust, prosecutors say Mr Ray subjected his victims to interrogation sessions in which he falsely accused them of harming him by attempting to poison him or damage his property. He allegedly demanded confessions, using tactics including sleep deprivation, sexual humiliation and physical violence. On one occasion, after accusing a male victim of damaging his property, Mr Ray brandished a knife and threatened to dismember the victim with it, forcing a false confession, the indictment says. He is accused of using the false confessions to extort money, which the victims attempted to pay by draining their parents' savings and opening credit lines, among other means. Authorities say he collected more than $500,000 from one woman after forcing her into prostitution, while several were forced to perform unpaid labour. In total, he is accused of extorting about $1m from at least five victims. Authorities say he laundered the proceeds of his crimes through an internet domain business. Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: \"College is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and new-found independence. But as alleged, Lawrence Ray exploited that vulnerable time in his victims' lives through a course of conduct that shocks the conscience\". Mr Ray has denied the charges, claiming they are the result of a conspiracy against him. In a statement reported by US media, Sarah Lawrence College described the charges as \"serious, wide-ranging, disturbing, and upsetting\". It said it launched an internal investigation after the New York magazine story was published, which it said \"did not substantiate those specific claims\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3414, "answer_start": 786, "text": "According to New York magazine, the abuse started when Mr Ray showed up at his daughter's university in 2010, after being released from prison, where he had been serving time on charges related to a custody dispute. The publication said his daughter described him to friends as a \"truth-teller\" who had been unjustly imprisoned. A former FBI informant, Mr Ray had been a close associate of former New York police chief Bernard Kerik. The pair fell out and Mr Ray cooperated with authorities in a high-profile corruption case against Kerik. Mr Ray moved into his daughter's dormitory, where prosecutors say he presented himself as a father-figure and began conducting \"therapy\" sessions. During the sessions, he allegedly learned intimate details about the students' private lives and mental health struggles. He alienated several of them from their parents, persuading some to move into a Manhattan apartment and convincing them that they were \"broken\" and needed his help. After gaining their trust, prosecutors say Mr Ray subjected his victims to interrogation sessions in which he falsely accused them of harming him by attempting to poison him or damage his property. He allegedly demanded confessions, using tactics including sleep deprivation, sexual humiliation and physical violence. On one occasion, after accusing a male victim of damaging his property, Mr Ray brandished a knife and threatened to dismember the victim with it, forcing a false confession, the indictment says. He is accused of using the false confessions to extort money, which the victims attempted to pay by draining their parents' savings and opening credit lines, among other means. Authorities say he collected more than $500,000 from one woman after forcing her into prostitution, while several were forced to perform unpaid labour. In total, he is accused of extorting about $1m from at least five victims. Authorities say he laundered the proceeds of his crimes through an internet domain business. Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: \"College is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and new-found independence. But as alleged, Lawrence Ray exploited that vulnerable time in his victims' lives through a course of conduct that shocks the conscience\". Mr Ray has denied the charges, claiming they are the result of a conspiracy against him. In a statement reported by US media, Sarah Lawrence College described the charges as \"serious, wide-ranging, disturbing, and upsetting\". It said it launched an internal investigation after the New York magazine story was published, which it said \"did not substantiate those specific claims\"." } ], "id": "868_0", "question": "What are the accusations?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "In the pre-dawn darkness of a February morning in 1917, a ship carrying hundreds of black South African men was sunk in the English Channel. But this was no act of war. A Royal Mail cargo ship had ploughed full speed into the SS Mendi - and its captain inexplicably did nothing to help. Who were these men and - 100 years later - has there been a lasting legacy from their deaths? The vast majority of those who drowned or died from hypothermia were South Africans recruited to work as manual labourers on the Western Front. Many had signed up hoping they would win more political freedoms if they demonstrated their willingness to help the British Empire's war effort. The Mendi had already completed a 34-day journey from Cape Town when it sailed past the Isle of Wight in foggy weather on 21 February. At about 05:00 GMT, a Royal Mail packet-boat, the SS Darro, ploughed into the Mendi at full speed, smashing a 20ft (6m) hole on her starboard side. It ripped through to crowded holds where men were sleeping in tightly-packed tiers of bunks. A total of 646 people died. Only 267 survived the sinking; 195 black men, two of the four white officers and 10 of the 17 white NCOs. From the safety of the Darro, Captain Harry Stump stood by and watched - but for reasons that are still murky, did nothing to save the lives of the men. Why didn't he help? The SS Darro sustained only minor damage and there was plenty of room on board, according to the official investigation. Survivors were instead picked up by the destroyer HMS Brisk and then other ships. South African historian Professor Albert Grundlingh, said it was difficult to explain Cpt Stump's actions. \"It's shrouded in mystery,\" he said. \"At a tribunal Cpt Stump said it was dark, and he couldn't see in the conditions. Maybe he was confused or lost his nerve. \"Was is because the men were black? There has certainly been speculation to that effect, but no firm conclusion. In South Africa, people believed that.\" The SANLC was formed in response to a British request for manual workers on the Western Front. The men were to have become part of a huge multinational labour force. Their role was to build the railways, trenches, camps and roads upon which the Allied war effort depended. They were not allowed to bear arms, were kept segregated, and were not eligible for military honours. Following the disaster, bodies continued to be washed up on both sides of the Channel for several weeks. The news of the sinking reached South Africa two weeks after it happened. Prime Minister General Louis Botha rose in parliament to inform the nation, and the house unanimously carried a motion conveying \"parliament's sadness\". Botha praised the labour corps for \"doing everything possible\" in the war and for their \"loyalty to the flag and the King\". This deference did not stretch to awarding medals to any of the black servicemen - living or dead - from the South African Native Labour Force. Such honours were reserved for white officers only. In the years that followed, the disaster was not made much of in South Africa. Indeed, some African National Congress (ANC) leaders viewed war veterans as \"sell-outs\", according to Prof Grundlingh, and felt \"embarrassed\" about black military service. Col Daisy Tshiloane, a former member of the ANC's military wing, said she had learned the story of the Mendi in \"ANC camps\". Speaking as a South African deputy defence advisor in 2014, she said she found it \"very hurtful\" that \"so many black African lives meant nothing\". The story was not included in school curriculums set by the country's white rulers but was passed on from generation to generation, says author Fred Khumalo. \"It's a huge gap in our history,\" says the writer of Dancing the Death Drill, a novel based on the sinking. The book's title comes from an unconfirmed but persistent anecdote about Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyobha, a pastor on the ship. He was a prominent member of a group of East Cape African intellectuals, who encouraged their compatriots to join the Labour Corps in the hope the show of loyalty would benefit black people politically. The story goes that he told the doomed men: \"Be quiet and calm, my countrymen, for what is taking place now is exactly what you came to do. \"You are going to die, but that is what you came to do. \"Brothers, we are drilling the drill of death. \"I, a Xhosa, say you are all my brothers, Zulus, Swazis, Pondos, Basutos, we die like brothers. \"We are the sons of Africa. \"Raise your cries, brothers, for though they made us leave our weapons at our home, our voices are left with our bodies. He then led them in a barefoot dance - the \"death drill\" - drumming their feet on the deck as the ship wallowed and sank. Historians have varyingly described the legend as \"pure nationalist mythology based on African oral tradition\" or containing a \"solid core of truth\". Other stories of heroism include that of Joseph Tshite, a schoolmaster from near Pretoria, who encouraged those around him with hymns and prayers until he died. A white sergeant was supported by two black compatriots, who swam with him and found place for him on a raft. The site of the wreck was discovered by an English diver in 1974 and an official memorial was erected by the South African government in 1986 at Delville Wood in France. By then, South Africa's black majority had lived under decades of apartheid rule, the hopes that loyalty in WW1 would lead to greater political rights having been long dashed. However, in post-apartheid South Africa, the story is now better known. A Mendi medal for bravery was established in 2003 and a modern South African navy ship bears its name. And the controversy over the actions - or lack of - by Cpt Stump rumbles on. He was found entirely to blame for the sinking. An official report ruled he was going too fast and had not sounded a warning whistle in the fog. According to Prof Grundlingh, the captain never explained why he did not help the stricken men on board the Mendi, nor express any regret or remorse. Yet despite calls for him to be jailed, the only sanction he faced was to have his licence suspended for a year. \"He must have heard the cries proceeding from the water for hours [after the accident],\" the report into the disaster said. \"There was nothing to have prevented him from sending boats on the then smooth water... had he done so, many more lives would have been saved. \"His inaction was inexcusable.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2351, "answer_start": 1977, "text": "The SANLC was formed in response to a British request for manual workers on the Western Front. The men were to have become part of a huge multinational labour force. Their role was to build the railways, trenches, camps and roads upon which the Allied war effort depended. They were not allowed to bear arms, were kept segregated, and were not eligible for military honours." } ], "id": "869_0", "question": "What was the South African Native Labour Corps?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Mexican immigrant accused of murdering Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts claims to have no memory of her death. Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, confessed to following the 20-year-old during her evening run five weeks ago. He said he \"got mad\" when she threatened to call 911, but cannot recall what happened next, police say. President Donald Trump has blamed US immigration laws for Ms Tibbetts' death, but the accused's lawyer said his client was in the US legally. The body of Ms Tibbetts, who went missing on 18 July, was discovered by investigators on Tuesday after they were led to the scene by Mr Rivera. Police say the suspect was living in the US illegally and had resided in the area around Ms Tibbetts' hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, for at least four years. But Mr Rivera's farm employers said he had passed an immigration background check. On Wednesday, Mr Trump addressed the case in a video message posted on Twitter in which he attacked US immigration laws as \"strictly pathetic\". \"A person came in from Mexico illegally and killed [Ms Tibbetts] - we need our immigration laws changed, we need our border laws changed,\" he said. \"We have the worse laws anywhere in the world,\" he added, before appealing for funding to erect a wall along the US-Mexico border. According to a criminal complaint, Mr Rivera has admitted observing Ms Tibbetts during her evening run while dog-sitting for her boyfriend. Camera images had captured Mr Rivera's black Chevy Malibu \"driving back and forth\" near the scene where she vanished, according to the affidavit. Under police questioning, he admitted following her in his car, before getting out and running \"behind and alongside\" her, police say. The accused told police he panicked after she threatened to call police. He said he \"blocked\" the memory of what happened next, \"which is what he does when he gets very upset\", according to the charging document. His memory supposedly returned as he was back behind the wheel of his car. He said he noticed a headphone earpiece in his lap, which is \"how he realised he put her in the trunk\", says the criminal complaint. Officials say the accused then checked the boot of his car, where he saw Ms Tibbetts' body wearing exercise clothing and with blood on both sides of her head. He said he dragged her 60ft (20m) into a secluded corn field, and allegedly left her body face-up and covered with corn plants. A statement from Ms Tibbetts' family on Wednesday said: \"Our hearts are broken. \"On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl.\" It included a request from the family for privacy. At the White House, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the death \"an unfortunate reminder of why we need to strengthen our immigration laws\". The White House also tweeted about the case, posting a video about family members of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants. On Wednesday, a judge at Poweshiek County Court ordered the suspect held behind bars on a $5m (PS4m) bail bond. During the hearing, the suspect wore headphones to hear a Spanish-language translator, and answered \"si\" when asked if he understood the charges. The suspect's defence lawyer, Allen Richards, disputed official statements that his client was in the US illegally. \"Sad and sorry Trump has weighed in on this matter in national media which will poison the entire possible pool of jury members,\" Mr Richards wrote in a court document, according to the Des Moines Register. Yarrabee Farms, where the suspect had been employed for four years, said in a statement he \"was vetted through the government's E-Verify system, and was an employee in good standing\". The farm in Brooklyn (population 1,500) is owned by a prominent Iowa Republican's brother. Owner Dane Lang wrote that he was \"shocked to hear that one of our employees was involved and is charged in this case\". According to the Washington Post, the suspect used a stolen ID card to pass the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2934, "answer_start": 2396, "text": "A statement from Ms Tibbetts' family on Wednesday said: \"Our hearts are broken. \"On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl.\" It included a request from the family for privacy. At the White House, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the death \"an unfortunate reminder of why we need to strengthen our immigration laws\". The White House also tweeted about the case, posting a video about family members of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants." } ], "id": "870_0", "question": "What is the latest reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic remains a sticking point in the Brexit negotiations. BBC Reality Check explains. Yes, borders are not just about security checks, tariffs and customs duties. When two countries (in this case the UK and the Republic of Ireland) are both members of the European Union, and therefore in the single market and the customs union, then many rules and regulations on both sides of the border are identical. That doesn't mean all rules are the same (think of speed limits in miles per hour or kilometres per hour for example) but a huge number of basic standards are. That means you don't have to check standards at the border because you know they are the same to start with. Over the summer, Brexit negotiators identified more than 140 areas of \"north-south co-operation\" that would be affected by Brexit in one way or another. Many of them are issues associated with cross-border trade in the agricultural sector - things like food safety and animal welfare. Energy is another important issue (there is an all-Ireland electricity market) - so too is transport (safety standards on cross-border routes) and the medical sector (the same rules governing things like prescriptions and medical devices). All of them are regulated under the umbrella of common EU legislation. If Northern Ireland, along with the rest of the UK, starts changing its regulations after Brexit, then problems start to arise. But the language is pretty confusing. At one point, the Irish government was asking for \"no regulatory divergence\". Now the dispute seems to be about \"continued regulatory alignment\". If you start from the point we're at right now, with all these rules and regulations the same, then \"no divergence\" implies that Northern Ireland would not be able to change them at all. It would have to remain the same as the Republic of Ireland (and the wider EU). Alignment implies something slightly different - two similar systems running in parallel could be aligned, but be different in some respects. So it is language which produces a little more wiggle room. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he thinks both phrases mean the same thing. If other parties think they mean something slightly different and honour is satisfied - well, that's the kind of creative ambiguity that sometimes makes international negotiations work. Yes. Everyone says they want to avoid the return of a \"hard\" border (a border where there is some kind of physical infrastructure and some kind of checks). But they all have slightly different solutions. The Irish government want a guarantee that regulations will remain broadly the same; the DUP doesn't want Northern Ireland to be treated any differently from the rest of the UK; Scotland, Wales, London and probably several others want special treatment themselves; and the EU is left wondering whether the UK government can square the circle. Either you try to limit the alignment of regulations to a few specific issues including some of those which fall under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the document on which the Northern Ireland peace process is based. (The Irish government wants a written guarantee that any agreement on the border respects the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.) Or you declare that you will try to ensure that some form of regulatory alignment eventually refers to the whole of the UK, not just to Northern Ireland. But option one would mean that Northern Ireland was being treated slightly differently which might be unacceptable to the DUP (on whom Theresa May is dependent for her parliamentary majority). And option two would upset Brexit supporters (on whom Theresa May is also dependent for her parliamentary majority) who argue that one of the main aims of Brexit was to be able move away from the EU's regulatory framework. Many in the EU think the heart of the problem is that by insisting that there should be a) no hard border b) no UK membership of the single market and the customs union and c) no checks of any kind between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the government in Westminster has set up a series of fundamentally incompatible red lines. For everyone politics has come home to roost. In various past negotiations - both in Northern Ireland and more generally in the EU - a form of words to satisfy all sides has been found at the eleventh hour. That could well happen again - but, don't forget, the aim at the moment is only to reach \"sufficient progress\" in the negotiations. If a deal is declared this week or next, that is by no means the end of the story. The UK government insists that if an ambitious trade agreement can be agreed with the EU in the future, then all of these detailed concerns about the Irish border will melt away. Mr Varadkar has also said an EU-UK trade agreement allowing free trade to continue is his preferred option. But until that happens the border will remain a fundamental part of the Brexit negotiations for some time to come. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1644, "answer_start": 737, "text": "Over the summer, Brexit negotiators identified more than 140 areas of \"north-south co-operation\" that would be affected by Brexit in one way or another. Many of them are issues associated with cross-border trade in the agricultural sector - things like food safety and animal welfare. Energy is another important issue (there is an all-Ireland electricity market) - so too is transport (safety standards on cross-border routes) and the medical sector (the same rules governing things like prescriptions and medical devices). All of them are regulated under the umbrella of common EU legislation. If Northern Ireland, along with the rest of the UK, starts changing its regulations after Brexit, then problems start to arise. But the language is pretty confusing. At one point, the Irish government was asking for \"no regulatory divergence\". Now the dispute seems to be about \"continued regulatory alignment\"." } ], "id": "871_0", "question": "So what are the rules and regulations we're talking about here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2382, "answer_start": 1645, "text": "If you start from the point we're at right now, with all these rules and regulations the same, then \"no divergence\" implies that Northern Ireland would not be able to change them at all. It would have to remain the same as the Republic of Ireland (and the wider EU). Alignment implies something slightly different - two similar systems running in parallel could be aligned, but be different in some respects. So it is language which produces a little more wiggle room. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he thinks both phrases mean the same thing. If other parties think they mean something slightly different and honour is satisfied - well, that's the kind of creative ambiguity that sometimes makes international negotiations work." } ], "id": "871_1", "question": "What's the difference?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2929, "answer_start": 2383, "text": "Yes. Everyone says they want to avoid the return of a \"hard\" border (a border where there is some kind of physical infrastructure and some kind of checks). But they all have slightly different solutions. The Irish government want a guarantee that regulations will remain broadly the same; the DUP doesn't want Northern Ireland to be treated any differently from the rest of the UK; Scotland, Wales, London and probably several others want special treatment themselves; and the EU is left wondering whether the UK government can square the circle." } ], "id": "871_2", "question": "But then politics gets in the way?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4245, "answer_start": 2930, "text": "Either you try to limit the alignment of regulations to a few specific issues including some of those which fall under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the document on which the Northern Ireland peace process is based. (The Irish government wants a written guarantee that any agreement on the border respects the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.) Or you declare that you will try to ensure that some form of regulatory alignment eventually refers to the whole of the UK, not just to Northern Ireland. But option one would mean that Northern Ireland was being treated slightly differently which might be unacceptable to the DUP (on whom Theresa May is dependent for her parliamentary majority). And option two would upset Brexit supporters (on whom Theresa May is also dependent for her parliamentary majority) who argue that one of the main aims of Brexit was to be able move away from the EU's regulatory framework. Many in the EU think the heart of the problem is that by insisting that there should be a) no hard border b) no UK membership of the single market and the customs union and c) no checks of any kind between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the government in Westminster has set up a series of fundamentally incompatible red lines. For everyone politics has come home to roost." } ], "id": "871_3", "question": "So what are the potential compromises?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A petition is to be handed into the Dutch parliament demanding that visiting a prostitute be made illegal. Some 42,000 young people have added their signatures, which means the issue will be debated by politicians in a country that has some of the most relaxed laws around paying for sex. \"I am priceless\" is the name of the social media-led campaign. Activists want buyers to be penalised, under the so-called Nordic model. Partly inspired by Christian and feminist views, the group have posted Instagram photos showing supporters clasping boards with words in black and white bearing the message \"Ik ben onbetaalbaar\" (I'm priceless) along with \"what if it was your sister?\" and \"prostitution is both a cause and consequence of inequality\". However, in response to the images, one person wrote: \"I'm a voluntary sex worker. There's many people like me. This campaign will make my job much, much more dangerous.\" In the Netherlands, buying and selling sex is legal as long as it involves \"sex between consenting adults\". Under the Nordic model, adopted by Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland and France, buyers are penalised. The young activists argue more should be done to protect vulnerable women. According to the \"I am priceless\" petition, the Netherlands' facilitation of the sex industry is outdated, exploitative and the Dutch should look to countries like Sweden for inspiration. They say countries in which the model has been introduced have seen: - fewer people going to buy sex - the country becoming less attractive for human traffickers - fewer people being exploited by prostitution. Among the founders of the Exxpose movement behind the petition is social worker Sara Lous, who used to work in a rehabilitation centre with former sex workers. \"We are feminists and Christians and some of us are neutral,\" she says. \"The idea is of course that the Netherlands has a safer policy, that decriminalising is safer and it's a freedom to sell sex. But so much is going wrong. we have so much human trafficking and Amsterdam is most vulnerable because of the high demand for cheap sex.\" She argues that women are given a signal that prostitution is an easy way to make money, whereas they need to have other options. \"There are only a few who are incapable of finding another job. They should have help to find other skills,\" she says. Amsterdam's Red Light Zone is one of the capital's most popular attractions, in a country where prostitution has been traditionally framed as a reflection of the value placed on freedom of choice. \"If a women wants to sell her body then that's her choice,\" is an argument pushed by politicians and public alike. Women working behind the red light windows have told me it is their free choice - but deeper conversations reveal it's often based on circumstances which they felt left them with no alternative. They include single mothers struggling to ensure that their children in Romania receive a decent education, and young women who have experienced abuse, leaving them with low self-esteem. But Foxxy, a board member on the sex-workers' collective Proud, warns that any attempt to criminalise clients would harm the prostitutes themselves. \"This petition is not in the sex workers' interest. It's people who read the Bible who are trying to stop us,\" she argues. \"If this happens sex workers will work illegally. Then we're more likely to be victims of violence. Clients will know we can't go to the police. We will be much more at risk, clients will try to take condoms off, we're more at risk of being exposed to HIV. It happened in France when they started this Nordic model.\" In response to the petition, a justice ministry spokesman told the BBC that the government had plans to step up measures against human trafficking as well as provide funds to help sex workers trying to leave prostitution. The plans were going into consultation and would be put to parliament later this year, he said. But any drastic overturn of the Netherlands' current liberal laws will face opposition from those in politics and society who see prostitution as a symbol of freedom rather than repression.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2350, "answer_start": 1133, "text": "The young activists argue more should be done to protect vulnerable women. According to the \"I am priceless\" petition, the Netherlands' facilitation of the sex industry is outdated, exploitative and the Dutch should look to countries like Sweden for inspiration. They say countries in which the model has been introduced have seen: - fewer people going to buy sex - the country becoming less attractive for human traffickers - fewer people being exploited by prostitution. Among the founders of the Exxpose movement behind the petition is social worker Sara Lous, who used to work in a rehabilitation centre with former sex workers. \"We are feminists and Christians and some of us are neutral,\" she says. \"The idea is of course that the Netherlands has a safer policy, that decriminalising is safer and it's a freedom to sell sex. But so much is going wrong. we have so much human trafficking and Amsterdam is most vulnerable because of the high demand for cheap sex.\" She argues that women are given a signal that prostitution is an easy way to make money, whereas they need to have other options. \"There are only a few who are incapable of finding another job. They should have help to find other skills,\" she says." } ], "id": "872_0", "question": "What do campaigners say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4141, "answer_start": 2351, "text": "Amsterdam's Red Light Zone is one of the capital's most popular attractions, in a country where prostitution has been traditionally framed as a reflection of the value placed on freedom of choice. \"If a women wants to sell her body then that's her choice,\" is an argument pushed by politicians and public alike. Women working behind the red light windows have told me it is their free choice - but deeper conversations reveal it's often based on circumstances which they felt left them with no alternative. They include single mothers struggling to ensure that their children in Romania receive a decent education, and young women who have experienced abuse, leaving them with low self-esteem. But Foxxy, a board member on the sex-workers' collective Proud, warns that any attempt to criminalise clients would harm the prostitutes themselves. \"This petition is not in the sex workers' interest. It's people who read the Bible who are trying to stop us,\" she argues. \"If this happens sex workers will work illegally. Then we're more likely to be victims of violence. Clients will know we can't go to the police. We will be much more at risk, clients will try to take condoms off, we're more at risk of being exposed to HIV. It happened in France when they started this Nordic model.\" In response to the petition, a justice ministry spokesman told the BBC that the government had plans to step up measures against human trafficking as well as provide funds to help sex workers trying to leave prostitution. The plans were going into consultation and would be put to parliament later this year, he said. But any drastic overturn of the Netherlands' current liberal laws will face opposition from those in politics and society who see prostitution as a symbol of freedom rather than repression." } ], "id": "872_1", "question": "How have prostitutes reacted?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US cable TV giant Comcast has made a PS22.1bn bid for Sky, challenging an existing offer from 21st Century Fox. Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox had already agreed an PS18.5bn deal to buy the 61% of Sky it does not already own. Comcast is the biggest US cable TV firm. It also owns the broadcast TV network NBC and Universal Pictures. Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts called Sky \"an outstanding company\" and said he was \"confident\" the offer would be cleared by regulators. Mr Roberts added: \"We would like to own the whole of Sky and we will be looking to acquire over 50% of the Sky shares\". Comcast said its bid of PS12.50 a share was 16% higher than the 21st Century Fox offer. Sky's shares were up more than 21% at above PS13 in afternoon trading on the London Stock Exchange. Comcast is a US multinational media and telecommunications giant. Its cable TV business is one of the largest in the US, and Comcast Cable also sells internet and phone services. It owns NBCUniversal, which has news, entertainment and sports cable networks such as NBC and CNBC, as well as film giant Universal Pictures. Dreamworks Animation, which has made films including Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures. Analysts from Liberum say there is \"a strong rationale\" for Comcast to buy Sky as it would give it immediate leading positions in pay-TV markets in the UK, Germany and Italy, as well as a presence in Spain. Comcast already has NBC Universal film and TV assets, but the deal \"would give it a very powerful distribution pan-European network,\" Liberum said. Earlier this month, Sky won the lion's share of Premier League TV rights for the football seasons between 2019 and 2022. Comcast chief financial officer Michael Cavanagh said the Premier League auction was a factor, but not the driving force behind the offer. Liberum said the lower price for the Premier League TV rights contract had taken out the risks of price inflation. Fox's Sky bid has not been viewed favourably by the UK's competition authority, which in January provisionally found that it would not be in the public interest. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is concerned that if the deal went through, the Murdoch Family Trust would have too much influence over public opinion and the political agenda. However, Fox has been trying to mollify competition concerns. Last week, Fox said it would keep Sky News running for at least 10 years, with a fully independent board for the channel, to try to make the proposed deal more attractive to regulators. The CMA will send a final report to Culture Secretary Matt Hancock by 1 May, and he will then have 30 working days to make the final decision about whether the deal will go ahead. In December last year, Walt Disney agreed to buy the bulk of 21st Century Fox's business, including its 39% Sky stake. Neil Wilson from ETX Capital said that after Comcast's own bid for Fox was rejected in favour of the Disney deal, there was every chance \"Comcast would spoil Mickey's party\". \"By making a play for Sky now it can get what it wants before Disney gets close - timing is everything and Comcast seems to have played its hand very well so far,\" he said. Stewart Purvis, a board member at Channel 4, said: \"We knew Comcast were interested in gate-crashing the [Sky] deal in some form.\" \"This simple deal will be attractive to regulators, it will be very attractive to shareholders, it'll force the price up they'll be prepared to pay... but it also potentially derails this whole deal between the Murdochs and Disney, which would be in Comcast's interests. \"They may be in love with Sky, and they may be prepared to pay a lot of money for Sky, but they've also got their eye on 'How can we disrupt our competitors?',\" Mr Purvis said. Analysts at Liberum said that if Fox wanted to counterbid for Sky, it would \"presumably need approval from Disney\" to fund the bid. If Disney refused, then Fox would have to find the money itself, \"which means it is then looking at a loss if Disney did end up acquiring 100% of Sky\". Mr Roberts said Comcast was prepared to co-own Sky with either Fox or Disney, as long as Comcast held a majority stake. However, Comcast has said it would like to own the whole of Sky. BBC media editor Amol Rajan says Comcast's bid looks unlikely to face the same regulatory hurdles as Fox's push for full control, \"since media plurality, commitment to broadcasting standards, and the political heat around the name Murdoch do not arise\". In making its offer, Comcast said Sky News was \"an invaluable part of the UK news landscape\", and it intended to \"maintain Sky News' existing brand and culture\". The Liberum analysts said there was a \"very good chance\" that Comcast's bid would succeed. Neither Fox nor Disney will want to get into a bidding war, \"especially given the [regulatory] complications surrounding Sky News\", they said. The UK government may also be looking for a way to defuse the political risks from the Fox bid, they added.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1237, "answer_start": 788, "text": "Comcast is a US multinational media and telecommunications giant. Its cable TV business is one of the largest in the US, and Comcast Cable also sells internet and phone services. It owns NBCUniversal, which has news, entertainment and sports cable networks such as NBC and CNBC, as well as film giant Universal Pictures. Dreamworks Animation, which has made films including Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures." } ], "id": "873_0", "question": "What is Comcast?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1967, "answer_start": 1238, "text": "Analysts from Liberum say there is \"a strong rationale\" for Comcast to buy Sky as it would give it immediate leading positions in pay-TV markets in the UK, Germany and Italy, as well as a presence in Spain. Comcast already has NBC Universal film and TV assets, but the deal \"would give it a very powerful distribution pan-European network,\" Liberum said. Earlier this month, Sky won the lion's share of Premier League TV rights for the football seasons between 2019 and 2022. Comcast chief financial officer Michael Cavanagh said the Premier League auction was a factor, but not the driving force behind the offer. Liberum said the lower price for the Premier League TV rights contract had taken out the risks of price inflation." } ], "id": "873_1", "question": "Why does Comcast want to buy Sky?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2746, "answer_start": 1968, "text": "Fox's Sky bid has not been viewed favourably by the UK's competition authority, which in January provisionally found that it would not be in the public interest. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is concerned that if the deal went through, the Murdoch Family Trust would have too much influence over public opinion and the political agenda. However, Fox has been trying to mollify competition concerns. Last week, Fox said it would keep Sky News running for at least 10 years, with a fully independent board for the channel, to try to make the proposed deal more attractive to regulators. The CMA will send a final report to Culture Secretary Matt Hancock by 1 May, and he will then have 30 working days to make the final decision about whether the deal will go ahead." } ], "id": "873_2", "question": "What issues has 21st Century Fox had with its Sky bid?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4261, "answer_start": 2747, "text": "In December last year, Walt Disney agreed to buy the bulk of 21st Century Fox's business, including its 39% Sky stake. Neil Wilson from ETX Capital said that after Comcast's own bid for Fox was rejected in favour of the Disney deal, there was every chance \"Comcast would spoil Mickey's party\". \"By making a play for Sky now it can get what it wants before Disney gets close - timing is everything and Comcast seems to have played its hand very well so far,\" he said. Stewart Purvis, a board member at Channel 4, said: \"We knew Comcast were interested in gate-crashing the [Sky] deal in some form.\" \"This simple deal will be attractive to regulators, it will be very attractive to shareholders, it'll force the price up they'll be prepared to pay... but it also potentially derails this whole deal between the Murdochs and Disney, which would be in Comcast's interests. \"They may be in love with Sky, and they may be prepared to pay a lot of money for Sky, but they've also got their eye on 'How can we disrupt our competitors?',\" Mr Purvis said. Analysts at Liberum said that if Fox wanted to counterbid for Sky, it would \"presumably need approval from Disney\" to fund the bid. If Disney refused, then Fox would have to find the money itself, \"which means it is then looking at a loss if Disney did end up acquiring 100% of Sky\". Mr Roberts said Comcast was prepared to co-own Sky with either Fox or Disney, as long as Comcast held a majority stake. However, Comcast has said it would like to own the whole of Sky." } ], "id": "873_3", "question": "Will the Comcast offer affect Disney's bid for Fox?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5019, "answer_start": 4262, "text": "BBC media editor Amol Rajan says Comcast's bid looks unlikely to face the same regulatory hurdles as Fox's push for full control, \"since media plurality, commitment to broadcasting standards, and the political heat around the name Murdoch do not arise\". In making its offer, Comcast said Sky News was \"an invaluable part of the UK news landscape\", and it intended to \"maintain Sky News' existing brand and culture\". The Liberum analysts said there was a \"very good chance\" that Comcast's bid would succeed. Neither Fox nor Disney will want to get into a bidding war, \"especially given the [regulatory] complications surrounding Sky News\", they said. The UK government may also be looking for a way to defuse the political risks from the Fox bid, they added." } ], "id": "873_4", "question": "How will regulators view the Comcast bid?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An experimental cocktail of viruses has saved the life of a teenager who had a deadly and seemingly untreatable infection. Isabelle's body was being attacked by bacteria and she was given less than a 1% chance of survival. But doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital attempted an untested \"phage therapy\", which uses viruses to infect and kill bacteria. Isabelle is now learning to drive and studying for her A-levels. Experts said the case was \"enormously exciting\" and showed the potential for treating other dangerous infections with phage. They are the microbial embodiment of the adage: \"My enemy's enemy is my friend.\" Phages, also known as bacteriophages, are a type of naturally occurring virus that infects bacteria rather than the body's own cells. Looking like sinister aliens, they land on the surface of a bacterium and inject their own genetic code. This hijacks the bacterial cell, turning it into a phage factory until the viruses eventually burst out of the cell. Isabelle Carnell-Holdaway was born with cystic fibrosis. It causes sticky mucus to develop inside her lungs, which can harbour dangerous infections. A relative of tuberculosis - Mycobacterium abscessus - infected her body and she needed potent antibiotics to keep it in check. When she was 16, she needed a double lung transplant, but the bacteria were still hiding in her body. When she started immunosuppressant drugs to prevent her rejecting the transplant, the infection came back. Her doctor, Helen Spencer, said: \"For patients with re-growth of Mycobacterium after transplant, in our experience, all have gone on and died. \"For some patients, that's within a year despite aggressive treatment.\" Isabelle had big, black, festering lesions forming on her skin where the infection was taking hold. And she ended up in intensive care when her liver started failing, with large colonies of bacteria forming in her body. Doctors said there was nothing they could do, and that Isabelle had a less than 1% chance of survival. Her parents decided to take her home where she would be surrounded by family. The idea for attempting phage therapy came from Isabelle's mother, Jo, who had been researching alternatives on the internet. The team at Great Ormond Street contacted Prof Graham Hatfull, at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in the US, who had the world's largest collection of phages. He had about 15,000 vials of phage but it took months to work out which combination of phages might work against Isabelle's infection. The US team settled on three phages - two of which they genetically modified to make them more effective. The therapy was injected into her blood stream twice a day and applied to the lesions on her skin, according to the journal Nature Medicine. Isabelle's mum, Jo, noticed the difference within weeks. She is in no doubt her daughter's life was saved by the viruses. Isabelle's lesions started to heal and some wounds that had been open for months started to close. Jo told BBC News: \"When we left hospital, she literally looked like a skeleton with skin on, she was so poorly. \"It was absolutely incredible the effect the phage had on her. \"She's got back her own life, the life of a 17-year-old girl.\" Isabelle went back to school in September, passed her GCSE maths and is now studying for her A-levels. She's also learning to drive. She told the BBC: \"It's an incredible thing, it's still working slowly, it's just great being able to do all these things on my own without having any problems.\" Isabelle's fatal infection has not been completely cured - but it is under control. She is still having two infusions of the viral cocktail every day. And the family are waiting for a fourth phage to be added to the mix in an attempt to clear her of the infection completely. Dr Spencer told BBC News: \"It's amazing really, but also tinged with sadness when I think of all the patients that did not survive as the treatment was not available in time for them.\" Isabelle's story is remarkable, but also only a single case. Technically, scientists cannot be certain how effective the phage is without performing clinical trials. Dr Spencer added: \"We have to be really cautious about extrapolating a single individual case to other patients and what it might mean for them. \"But I think it does encourage future research into phage therapy for some of those resistant bacteria that we're really becoming concerned about.\" No, some doctors have been using phages for nearly a century. The field developed in Georgia and other countries in the former USSR, but never became mainstream medicine. Phage-therapy was eclipsed by the discovery of antibiotics, which are much easier to use. One antibiotic can work across a broad range of bacterial infections, while phage-therapy requires finding the precise phages that will attack each infection. But now phage-therapy is having a resurgence due to the rise of superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics. This is the big question and at the moment there is no clear answer. Prof Graham Hatfull, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, said: \"We're sort of in uncharted territory. \"The idea is to use bacteriophages as antibiotics, as something we could use to kill bacteria that cause infection.\" But to use phage more widely would require careful matching of phages to a patient's infection. Prof Martha Clokie, a phage researcher at the University of Leicester, told BBC News: \"I think that this work is enormously exciting. \"It shows how bacteriophages can be successfully developed as therapeutics even in very difficult circumstances where bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics and the bacteria are difficult to treat. \"I think it will pave the way for other such studies and help with getting the necessary trials carried out on bacteriophages so that they can be used more widely to treat humans.\" Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 980, "answer_start": 544, "text": "They are the microbial embodiment of the adage: \"My enemy's enemy is my friend.\" Phages, also known as bacteriophages, are a type of naturally occurring virus that infects bacteria rather than the body's own cells. Looking like sinister aliens, they land on the surface of a bacterium and inject their own genetic code. This hijacks the bacterial cell, turning it into a phage factory until the viruses eventually burst out of the cell." } ], "id": "874_0", "question": "What are phages?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2082, "answer_start": 981, "text": "Isabelle Carnell-Holdaway was born with cystic fibrosis. It causes sticky mucus to develop inside her lungs, which can harbour dangerous infections. A relative of tuberculosis - Mycobacterium abscessus - infected her body and she needed potent antibiotics to keep it in check. When she was 16, she needed a double lung transplant, but the bacteria were still hiding in her body. When she started immunosuppressant drugs to prevent her rejecting the transplant, the infection came back. Her doctor, Helen Spencer, said: \"For patients with re-growth of Mycobacterium after transplant, in our experience, all have gone on and died. \"For some patients, that's within a year despite aggressive treatment.\" Isabelle had big, black, festering lesions forming on her skin where the infection was taking hold. And she ended up in intensive care when her liver started failing, with large colonies of bacteria forming in her body. Doctors said there was nothing they could do, and that Isabelle had a less than 1% chance of survival. Her parents decided to take her home where she would be surrounded by family." } ], "id": "874_1", "question": "Why did Isabelle need them?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2754, "answer_start": 2083, "text": "The idea for attempting phage therapy came from Isabelle's mother, Jo, who had been researching alternatives on the internet. The team at Great Ormond Street contacted Prof Graham Hatfull, at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in the US, who had the world's largest collection of phages. He had about 15,000 vials of phage but it took months to work out which combination of phages might work against Isabelle's infection. The US team settled on three phages - two of which they genetically modified to make them more effective. The therapy was injected into her blood stream twice a day and applied to the lesions on her skin, according to the journal Nature Medicine." } ], "id": "874_2", "question": "Where did the experimental therapy come from?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3508, "answer_start": 2755, "text": "Isabelle's mum, Jo, noticed the difference within weeks. She is in no doubt her daughter's life was saved by the viruses. Isabelle's lesions started to heal and some wounds that had been open for months started to close. Jo told BBC News: \"When we left hospital, she literally looked like a skeleton with skin on, she was so poorly. \"It was absolutely incredible the effect the phage had on her. \"She's got back her own life, the life of a 17-year-old girl.\" Isabelle went back to school in September, passed her GCSE maths and is now studying for her A-levels. She's also learning to drive. She told the BBC: \"It's an incredible thing, it's still working slowly, it's just great being able to do all these things on my own without having any problems.\"" } ], "id": "874_3", "question": "How good were the results?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4428, "answer_start": 3509, "text": "Isabelle's fatal infection has not been completely cured - but it is under control. She is still having two infusions of the viral cocktail every day. And the family are waiting for a fourth phage to be added to the mix in an attempt to clear her of the infection completely. Dr Spencer told BBC News: \"It's amazing really, but also tinged with sadness when I think of all the patients that did not survive as the treatment was not available in time for them.\" Isabelle's story is remarkable, but also only a single case. Technically, scientists cannot be certain how effective the phage is without performing clinical trials. Dr Spencer added: \"We have to be really cautious about extrapolating a single individual case to other patients and what it might mean for them. \"But I think it does encourage future research into phage therapy for some of those resistant bacteria that we're really becoming concerned about.\"" } ], "id": "874_4", "question": "Is she cured?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4957, "answer_start": 4429, "text": "No, some doctors have been using phages for nearly a century. The field developed in Georgia and other countries in the former USSR, but never became mainstream medicine. Phage-therapy was eclipsed by the discovery of antibiotics, which are much easier to use. One antibiotic can work across a broad range of bacterial infections, while phage-therapy requires finding the precise phages that will attack each infection. But now phage-therapy is having a resurgence due to the rise of superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics." } ], "id": "874_5", "question": "Is phage therapy new?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5889, "answer_start": 4958, "text": "This is the big question and at the moment there is no clear answer. Prof Graham Hatfull, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, said: \"We're sort of in uncharted territory. \"The idea is to use bacteriophages as antibiotics, as something we could use to kill bacteria that cause infection.\" But to use phage more widely would require careful matching of phages to a patient's infection. Prof Martha Clokie, a phage researcher at the University of Leicester, told BBC News: \"I think that this work is enormously exciting. \"It shows how bacteriophages can be successfully developed as therapeutics even in very difficult circumstances where bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics and the bacteria are difficult to treat. \"I think it will pave the way for other such studies and help with getting the necessary trials carried out on bacteriophages so that they can be used more widely to treat humans.\" Follow James on Twitter." } ], "id": "874_6", "question": "What does this mean for other infections?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who spent years on death row after being convicted of blasphemy, has left the country, officials have confirmed. Her conviction was overturned last year by the Supreme Court. She was originally convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a row with her neighbours. Asia Bibi has always maintained her innocence in a highly sensitive case that has polarised Pakistan. Pakistani government officials did not reveal her destination, or say when she left. But her lawyer Saif ul Malook told the BBC she had already arrived in Canada, where two of her daughters are understood to have been granted asylum. Asia Noreen - commonly known as Asia Bibi - was kept at a secret location while arrangements were made for her to leave the country. In a statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he wishes Asia Bibi \"all the best\" now she has been \"safely reunited with her family\". The Supreme Court's quashing of her sentence last October led to violent protests by religious hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws, while more liberal sections of society urged her release. Last year, Pakistani authorities arrested prominent Islamic cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, whose Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) party led mass protests over Asia Bibi's acquittal. Dozens of his supporters and TLP leaders were also detained. Officials say they were arrested to maintain public order after the cleric urged his supporters to \"jam the whole country\" if he was arrested. Islamist groups have regularly called for Asia Bibi to be executed and activists say she would not have been safe had she stayed in Pakistan. The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi had with a group of women in June 2009. They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation. Acquitting her, the Supreme Court said that the case was based on unreliable evidence and her confession was delivered in front of a crowd \"threatening to kill her\". Analysis by Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad The Pakistani government's muted, though willing, admission of Asia Bibi's departure indicates the closure of a case that brought the country much embarrassment. There is also a sense that justice may finally have been done in an area where religious fanaticism has long overruled due process. Asia Bibi is one among hundreds of Pakistani citizens who have been charged with blasphemy over the past few decades. But her case stood out when a prominent politician and governor of the country's largest province, Salman Taseer, was murdered in 2011. He had publicly expressed sympathy for her and vowed to reform the blasphemy law. This propelled her to the centre of a raging controversy. It was international attention which ultimately forced the Pakistani authorities to work behind the scenes to neutralise the forces that were expected to kick up a fuss if she were freed. Read more from Ilyas: Pakistan Supreme Court's 'historic' ruling Canada, whose Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly offered her asylum, told the BBC it has no comment on her case or whereabouts. In November 2018, Mr Trudeau said talks were under way with Pakistan over Asia Bibi, saying Canada is a \"welcoming country\". Mr Trudeau confirmed the negotiations after Asia Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, pleaded for asylum from the UK, US or Canada. He said Pakistan was \"very dangerous\" for him and his family after Pakistani authorities struck a deal with TLP to end protests over his wife's acquittal. In a recent interview with the BBC, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said she was \"safe\" and would be departing the country \"very soon\". Islam is Pakistan's national religion and underpins its legal system. Public support for the strict blasphemy laws is strong. Hardline politicians have often backed severe punishments, partly as a way of shoring up their support base. But critics say the laws have often been used to exact revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence. The vast majority of those convicted are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community who identify themselves as Muslims but are regarded as heretical by orthodox Islam. Since the 1990s scores of Christians have also been convicted. They make up just 1.6% of the population. The Christian community has been targeted by numerous attacks in recent years, leaving many feeling vulnerable to a climate of intolerance. Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy. Asia Bibi, who was born in 1971 and has four children, was the first woman to be sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2416, "answer_start": 1662, "text": "The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi had with a group of women in June 2009. They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation. Acquitting her, the Supreme Court said that the case was based on unreliable evidence and her confession was delivered in front of a crowd \"threatening to kill her\"." } ], "id": "875_0", "question": "What was she accused of?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5092, "answer_start": 4085, "text": "Islam is Pakistan's national religion and underpins its legal system. Public support for the strict blasphemy laws is strong. Hardline politicians have often backed severe punishments, partly as a way of shoring up their support base. But critics say the laws have often been used to exact revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence. The vast majority of those convicted are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community who identify themselves as Muslims but are regarded as heretical by orthodox Islam. Since the 1990s scores of Christians have also been convicted. They make up just 1.6% of the population. The Christian community has been targeted by numerous attacks in recent years, leaving many feeling vulnerable to a climate of intolerance. Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy. Asia Bibi, who was born in 1971 and has four children, was the first woman to be sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws." } ], "id": "875_1", "question": "Why has her case been so divisive?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has defended swingeing budget cuts to his own department proposed by President Donald Trump. Speaking in Japan, he said the level of state department spending in the past had been \"simply not sustainable\" and he willingly accepted the \"challenge\". If Congress backs the budget, and that is far from a done deal, the state department and USAID face cuts of 28%. Budget savings would benefit the military primarily. Environmental programmes, medical research and the Amtrak long-distance rail network would all lose out. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the largest source of public broadcasting money in the US, would lose its funding completely. While Mr Trump's Republicans control both houses of Congress, segments of the budget plan are expected to face stiff resistance across the parties. The budget, known as a \"skinny budget\", will be limited to the $1tn portion of the $4tn annual federal budget that pays for US agencies and departments. At a news conference in Tokyo, the US secretary of state said the White House was acting on the expectation that there would be fewer military conflicts involving the US directly \"as time goes by\" and that its allies would do more themselves to contribute to development aid and disaster assistance. The state department was \"coming off a historically high allocation of resources\", he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. \"We are going to be able to do a lot with fewer dollars,\" he said. Under the budget plans, defence department spending would rise by $54bn (PS44bn) or 10%, including $2bn for nuclear weapons, while homeland security would get a 6.8% boost. In addition, the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the maintenance and safety of the nuclear arsenal and its research labs, would gain $1.4bn. Veterans Affairs would get a rise of 5.9%, or $4.4bn, to meet growing healthcare costs. President Trump said in a message accompanying his budget plan: \"A budget that puts America first must make the safety of our people its number one priority because without safety, there can be no prosperity.\" While the White House wants Mexico to pay for a controversial wall along the two countries' border - Some $1.5bn would be applied to pilot schemes to determine construction methods and locations - And immigration enforcement and border patrol agents would get $314m to hire 1,500 new staff In relative terms, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would lose the most, taking a hit of 31.4% or $2.6bn. However, in dollar terms, health and human services would face the biggest cut of all: $12.6bn or 16.2%. It is not clear what research on diseases or disorders would lose the most money, the Associated Press news agency reports. Agriculture loses 21% of its budget, labour 21% and transport 13%. By Matt McGrath, BBC environment correspondent US popular support for action to tackle environmental problems reached a peak after the heavily polluted Cuyahoga river in Cleveland caught fire in 1969. Ongoing problems with air and water prompted Richard Nixon to establish the Environmental Protection Agency a year later in 1970, with broad bipartisan support. Over the past 47 years it has had major successes - acid rain, leaded petrol and the pesticide DDT have become footnotes in history thanks to the agency. While the swingeing cuts proposed by the Trump administration will hit the EPA's climate change research abilities and the implementation of Clean Power Plan, the measures will also have a major impact on regional pollution cleanup efforts in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. The Superfund program, which manages and attempts to clean up hundreds of sites poisoned with lead, asbestos and dioxins, would see its cash cut by $330m to $760m. While President Trump has many times spoke about his belief in clean air and clean water, the ability of the EPA to deliver these is likely to be significantly hampered by the loss of 3,200 employees proposed in the budget. And if an environmental disaster like Cuyahoga or last year's Flint water crisis strikes in the future, will these proposed cuts be blamed? The state department and USAID (US Agency for International Development) between them pay for everything from the diplomatic corps to fighting poverty, promoting human rights and improving healthcare in foreign countries. A 28% cut would mean the loss of $10bn. The CPB certainly has supplied funds to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) but Big Bird and friends migrated from there to commercial network HBO nearly two years ago. Local public television and radio stations across America also receive CPB grants and would stand to suffer if the corporation lost federal support. The budget is submitted to Congress as a series of bills - the \"annual appropriations bills\". In order for each to succeed, it has to get 60 votes in the Senate, where the Republicans have 52 seats to 48 for the Democrats. At least eight Democrats would have to vote for the cuts or at least refuse to obstruct it. Given the level of Democratic animosity towards Mr Trump, those possibilities look slim. Meanwhile, several Republicans have publicly opposed moves to slash funding for diplomacy and foreign aid. Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate subcommittee responsible for the budgets, said last month: \"It's dead on arrival - it's not going to happen. It would be a disaster... If you take soft power off the table then you're never going to win the war.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1490, "answer_start": 997, "text": "At a news conference in Tokyo, the US secretary of state said the White House was acting on the expectation that there would be fewer military conflicts involving the US directly \"as time goes by\" and that its allies would do more themselves to contribute to development aid and disaster assistance. The state department was \"coming off a historically high allocation of resources\", he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. \"We are going to be able to do a lot with fewer dollars,\" he said." } ], "id": "876_0", "question": "How did Tillerson defend the cuts?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2127, "answer_start": 1491, "text": "Under the budget plans, defence department spending would rise by $54bn (PS44bn) or 10%, including $2bn for nuclear weapons, while homeland security would get a 6.8% boost. In addition, the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the maintenance and safety of the nuclear arsenal and its research labs, would gain $1.4bn. Veterans Affairs would get a rise of 5.9%, or $4.4bn, to meet growing healthcare costs. President Trump said in a message accompanying his budget plan: \"A budget that puts America first must make the safety of our people its number one priority because without safety, there can be no prosperity.\"" } ], "id": "876_1", "question": "How much would the military gain?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4413, "answer_start": 4152, "text": "The state department and USAID (US Agency for International Development) between them pay for everything from the diplomatic corps to fighting poverty, promoting human rights and improving healthcare in foreign countries. A 28% cut would mean the loss of $10bn." } ], "id": "876_2", "question": "What about Tillerson's department?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4733, "answer_start": 4414, "text": "The CPB certainly has supplied funds to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) but Big Bird and friends migrated from there to commercial network HBO nearly two years ago. Local public television and radio stations across America also receive CPB grants and would stand to suffer if the corporation lost federal support." } ], "id": "876_3", "question": "Would Sesame Street suffer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5504, "answer_start": 4734, "text": "The budget is submitted to Congress as a series of bills - the \"annual appropriations bills\". In order for each to succeed, it has to get 60 votes in the Senate, where the Republicans have 52 seats to 48 for the Democrats. At least eight Democrats would have to vote for the cuts or at least refuse to obstruct it. Given the level of Democratic animosity towards Mr Trump, those possibilities look slim. Meanwhile, several Republicans have publicly opposed moves to slash funding for diplomacy and foreign aid. Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate subcommittee responsible for the budgets, said last month: \"It's dead on arrival - it's not going to happen. It would be a disaster... If you take soft power off the table then you're never going to win the war.\"" } ], "id": "876_4", "question": "Will the budget ever be passed anyway?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Delivery problems will mean some KFC outlets will remain closed for the rest of the week, while others will have a reduced menu or shortened hours. About half the fast food chain's 900 outlets in its UK-based division were still closed on Tuesday night. That was fewer than the 575 closed as of Monday evening. Last week the fried chicken chain switched its delivery contract to DHL, which has blamed \"operational issues\" for the supply disruption. Earlier, a KFC spokesperson expected the number of closures to fall in the coming coming days as teams \"work flat-out all hours to clear the backlog\". \"Each day more deliveries are being made. However, we expect the disruption to some restaurants to continue over the remainder of the week, meaning some will be closed and others operating with a reduced menu or shortened hours.\" DHL's managing director of retail, John Boulter, said the delivery firm regretted the \"interruption of supply\" and apologised for the \"inconvenience and disappointment caused to KFC and their customers\". \"The reasons for this unforeseen interruption of this complex service are being worked on with a goal to return to normal service levels as soon as possible,\" he added. \"We are committed to step-by-step improvements to allow KFC to reopen its stores over the coming days.\" KFC has set up a web page where customers can find their nearest outlet that is open. Until 13 February, KFC's chicken was delivered by specialist food distribution group Bidvest. But after the contract switched to DHL, many of the food giant's outlets began running out of chicken products. The GMB union said it had warned KFC that switching from Bidvest to DHL was a mistake. The change led to 255 job losses and the closure of a Bidvest depot, said Mick Rix, GMB national officer. \"Bidvest are specialists - a food distribution firm with years of experience. DHL are scratching around for any work they can get, and undercut them,\" he said. \"KFC are left with hundreds of restaurants closed while DHL try and run the whole operation out of one distribution centre. Three weeks ago, KFC knew they had made a terrible mistake, but by then it was too late.\" The distribution network uses software developed by the firm Quick Service Logistics (QSL). DHL said: \"Due to operational issues, a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed. We are working with our partners, KFC and QSL, to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience.\" A KFC spokesperson said the decision to change supplier had not been taken lightly. \"DHL have estimated that winning the KFC contract and opening the new distribution centre has created 300 new jobs,\" he added. KFC's spokesman said he did not have a figure, but any calculation is likely to be complicated by the fact that 95% of KFC's outlets in the UK are run by franchisees. Some media reports say the crisis could be costing the chain PS1m a day, but any such figure is likely to be guesswork. Workers are being encouraged to take holiday, but would not be forced to do so, the company has said. It said that in the restaurants owned by the chain, staff on short-term contracts would be paid the average hours worked per day over the past 12 weeks, while those on salaries would be paid as normal. \"Franchisees will be seeking their own independent advice, but we're encouraging them to adopt this policy too,\" said the chain. A KFC worker in London who contacted the BBC said he had not received any shifts for the past week. \"This problem isn't our fault, but we are the ones who can't work. \"I have got bills that come out of my account on Friday and I feel terrible about the whole situation. I am looking for a new job,\" he said. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2701, "answer_start": 1393, "text": "Until 13 February, KFC's chicken was delivered by specialist food distribution group Bidvest. But after the contract switched to DHL, many of the food giant's outlets began running out of chicken products. The GMB union said it had warned KFC that switching from Bidvest to DHL was a mistake. The change led to 255 job losses and the closure of a Bidvest depot, said Mick Rix, GMB national officer. \"Bidvest are specialists - a food distribution firm with years of experience. DHL are scratching around for any work they can get, and undercut them,\" he said. \"KFC are left with hundreds of restaurants closed while DHL try and run the whole operation out of one distribution centre. Three weeks ago, KFC knew they had made a terrible mistake, but by then it was too late.\" The distribution network uses software developed by the firm Quick Service Logistics (QSL). DHL said: \"Due to operational issues, a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed. We are working with our partners, KFC and QSL, to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience.\" A KFC spokesperson said the decision to change supplier had not been taken lightly. \"DHL have estimated that winning the KFC contract and opening the new distribution centre has created 300 new jobs,\" he added." } ], "id": "877_0", "question": "What caused the problems?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3729, "answer_start": 2989, "text": "Workers are being encouraged to take holiday, but would not be forced to do so, the company has said. It said that in the restaurants owned by the chain, staff on short-term contracts would be paid the average hours worked per day over the past 12 weeks, while those on salaries would be paid as normal. \"Franchisees will be seeking their own independent advice, but we're encouraging them to adopt this policy too,\" said the chain. A KFC worker in London who contacted the BBC said he had not received any shifts for the past week. \"This problem isn't our fault, but we are the ones who can't work. \"I have got bills that come out of my account on Friday and I feel terrible about the whole situation. I am looking for a new job,\" he said." } ], "id": "877_1", "question": "What's happening to KFC staff?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Demonstrators across Chile have been expressing their anger at high levels of inequality and the cost of living. So, we've taken a look at whether the difference between rich and poor in Chile is actually rising and how this inequality compares with other countries. First, let's compare Chile's inequality with other countries. We've looked at the Gini index, the most widely used international measure of inequality - for which the higher the number, the greater the inequality. This shows Chile ranks as one of the most unequal country among a group of 30 of the world's wealthiest nations. \"It has been a highly unequal country for years,\" says Javier Sajuria, a senior lecturer in politics at Queen Mary University. He says the data indicates inequality has actually been falling but possibly \"not fast enough\", which could in part explain the outpouring of anger. Another way to consider inequality is by looking at the incomes of the richest and poorest. In 2006, the richest 20% earned 10 times more than the poorest 20%, according to a government survey. In 2017, that figure had fallen to 8.9 - indicating the income gap between rich and poor had in fact narrowed slightly. \"This isn't about political parties\" one protestor, Constanza Gonzalez, told BBC News. \"People are angry and this was a thing that had been coming for quite a long time.\" The Chilean government conducts a national household survey every two years and provides a measure of how many in the country are facing poverty. This includes people who struggle to buy enough food to survive as well as those spending a large proportion of their family income on food. These figures suggest a consistent and significant fall in poverty over the past decade. Real wages (adjusted for inflation) have been increasing by about 4% over the last five years, according to government statistics. The median (middle) monthly wage in 2018 was 400,000 Chilean pesos, about $550. Close to half the country earns this much. The economic indicators we've looked at here suggest improving economic conditions for many in Chile over the past decade. But it's also a country with one of the highest levels of inequality among the world's industrialised countries. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1354, "answer_start": 267, "text": "First, let's compare Chile's inequality with other countries. We've looked at the Gini index, the most widely used international measure of inequality - for which the higher the number, the greater the inequality. This shows Chile ranks as one of the most unequal country among a group of 30 of the world's wealthiest nations. \"It has been a highly unequal country for years,\" says Javier Sajuria, a senior lecturer in politics at Queen Mary University. He says the data indicates inequality has actually been falling but possibly \"not fast enough\", which could in part explain the outpouring of anger. Another way to consider inequality is by looking at the incomes of the richest and poorest. In 2006, the richest 20% earned 10 times more than the poorest 20%, according to a government survey. In 2017, that figure had fallen to 8.9 - indicating the income gap between rich and poor had in fact narrowed slightly. \"This isn't about political parties\" one protestor, Constanza Gonzalez, told BBC News. \"People are angry and this was a thing that had been coming for quite a long time.\"" } ], "id": "878_0", "question": "How unequal is Chile?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2220, "answer_start": 1355, "text": "The Chilean government conducts a national household survey every two years and provides a measure of how many in the country are facing poverty. This includes people who struggle to buy enough food to survive as well as those spending a large proportion of their family income on food. These figures suggest a consistent and significant fall in poverty over the past decade. Real wages (adjusted for inflation) have been increasing by about 4% over the last five years, according to government statistics. The median (middle) monthly wage in 2018 was 400,000 Chilean pesos, about $550. Close to half the country earns this much. The economic indicators we've looked at here suggest improving economic conditions for many in Chile over the past decade. But it's also a country with one of the highest levels of inequality among the world's industrialised countries." } ], "id": "878_1", "question": "What about poverty levels?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Young people will be left to pick up the bill for climate change because politicians are dodging the issue, a UK report warns. The government must act faster to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from road traffic, homes and farming, the Committee on Climate Change says. Without action, the coming generation will have to pay much more to curb emissions in a heating world. The government says it is committed to being a world leader on climate change. It will introduce its low-carbon transport plan soon. The advisers are \"acutely concerned\" at the UK's lack of progress in cutting the carbon emissions overheating the planet. The committee says the UK made a good start with the power industry but emissions cuts have effectively stalled in the past five years. Members say it will be much cheaper, for instance, to begin a steady changeover to electric cars now than to have to rush the technology in years to come. What is climate change? Climate change 'hurts women more' 2017: 'Warmest year without El Nino' A manifesto to save Planet Earth (and ourselves) - Power: The electricity industry is a star performer. Emissions from power generation have more than halved (-55%) - Waste: Emissions from waste are down by almost a quarter (-23%) - Farming: Emissions from farming have barely dropped (-3%) - Transport: The villain is transport, where emissions have actually gone up (+4%) Since 2012, 75% of emissions cuts have come from power. Coal power stations in the UK are being phased out - they are the worst polluters. Renewables have proved far cheaper than anyone thought. The government has banned subsidies for onshore wind - even though analysts say that will add to energy bills. In addition, communities have been given the say as to whether they can go ahead or not. This means that just a few objections are needed to block the progress of wind projects. But the committee says onshore wind and solar will be even cheaper than burning gas for electricity in the 2020s. If it's dumped in a landfill, food and plant matter will rot and create methane, which contributes to climate change. Councils have been asking people to separate food and garden waste from general waste. Now, companies are increasingly trying to capture methane from food waste and harness it to make useful biogas. But after a good start, emissions cuts are stalling. Making fertiliser emits greenhouse gases. And so does spreading animal dung on the fields to help crops grow. Farm machines pollute. And cutting wood for farms is problematic for the climate too, because trees soak up CO2. The government says it will help more farmers combat climate change. People are buying bigger and heavier cars. The government removed the fuel duty incentive for low-pollution cars, so now a Porsche can be taxed at the same rate as a clean Toyota Prius. What is more, concern about pollution from diesels has shifted some drivers to petrol cars. They create less pollution but more greenhouse gases. The committee says sales of electric cars and installation of charging points are both too slow. Getting people to insulate their homes to save wasting heat is a big challenge. The committee says insulation rates in homes are 95% lower because of grants cuts. It wants ministers to insist that all new homes are zero-carbon. We also have to start experiments on a large scale with actually capturing the CO2 gas from industry and storing it in rocks underground, it says. The committee says part of the problem is that responsibility for cutting emissions is split between various government departments. They don't all see tackling climate change as a key priority. But a spokesperson for the UK government said: \"We've proven ourselves to be world-leaders in tackling climate change - cutting emissions faster than any other G7 country and producing record levels of low carbon energy. \"We're confident of cutting emissions across the wider economy to meet our carbon budgets while seizing the economic opportunities of clean growth.\" People committed to personally tackling climate change can avoid flying and eating meat - two of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases. They maybe walk or cycle instead of taking the car - and they try to insulate their homes or turn the heating down. They recycle too - but that probably helps less with the climate than many people think. Follow Roger on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1064, "answer_start": 508, "text": "The advisers are \"acutely concerned\" at the UK's lack of progress in cutting the carbon emissions overheating the planet. The committee says the UK made a good start with the power industry but emissions cuts have effectively stalled in the past five years. Members say it will be much cheaper, for instance, to begin a steady changeover to electric cars now than to have to rush the technology in years to come. What is climate change? Climate change 'hurts women more' 2017: 'Warmest year without El Nino' A manifesto to save Planet Earth (and ourselves)" } ], "id": "879_0", "question": "Why does this matter?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2357, "answer_start": 1988, "text": "If it's dumped in a landfill, food and plant matter will rot and create methane, which contributes to climate change. Councils have been asking people to separate food and garden waste from general waste. Now, companies are increasingly trying to capture methane from food waste and harness it to make useful biogas. But after a good start, emissions cuts are stalling." } ], "id": "879_1", "question": "How has the waste industry cut emissions?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2649, "answer_start": 2358, "text": "Making fertiliser emits greenhouse gases. And so does spreading animal dung on the fields to help crops grow. Farm machines pollute. And cutting wood for farms is problematic for the climate too, because trees soak up CO2. The government says it will help more farmers combat climate change." } ], "id": "879_2", "question": "What's up with farming?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3078, "answer_start": 2650, "text": "People are buying bigger and heavier cars. The government removed the fuel duty incentive for low-pollution cars, so now a Porsche can be taxed at the same rate as a clean Toyota Prius. What is more, concern about pollution from diesels has shifted some drivers to petrol cars. They create less pollution but more greenhouse gases. The committee says sales of electric cars and installation of charging points are both too slow." } ], "id": "879_3", "question": "Why are transport emissions going up?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3453, "answer_start": 3079, "text": "Getting people to insulate their homes to save wasting heat is a big challenge. The committee says insulation rates in homes are 95% lower because of grants cuts. It wants ministers to insist that all new homes are zero-carbon. We also have to start experiments on a large scale with actually capturing the CO2 gas from industry and storing it in rocks underground, it says." } ], "id": "879_4", "question": "What are the other challenges?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4018, "answer_start": 3454, "text": "The committee says part of the problem is that responsibility for cutting emissions is split between various government departments. They don't all see tackling climate change as a key priority. But a spokesperson for the UK government said: \"We've proven ourselves to be world-leaders in tackling climate change - cutting emissions faster than any other G7 country and producing record levels of low carbon energy. \"We're confident of cutting emissions across the wider economy to meet our carbon budgets while seizing the economic opportunities of clean growth.\"" } ], "id": "879_5", "question": "Why is the government struggling to cut emissions?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4386, "answer_start": 4019, "text": "People committed to personally tackling climate change can avoid flying and eating meat - two of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases. They maybe walk or cycle instead of taking the car - and they try to insulate their homes or turn the heating down. They recycle too - but that probably helps less with the climate than many people think. Follow Roger on Twitter." } ], "id": "879_6", "question": "What can you do if you are concerned about the climate?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "When Prashant Sharma and Niti Shree were planning to marry, they decided to ask for something unusual as a wedding present - the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. The couple, who live in the south Indian city of Bangalore, are founders of a digital start-up and many of their friends also work for technology companies. \"So we thought of merging technology with gifting for the future,\" said Mr Sharma. \"We explained it to our parents and they were very receptive.\" The wedding took place on 9 December, just four days after India's central bank issued its third warning cautioning investors against buying Bitcoins. But that didn't seem to discourage their friends and family. There are two key traits of Bitcoin: it is digital and it is seen as an alternative currency. Unlike the notes or coins in your pocket, it largely exists online. Secondly, Bitcoin is not printed by governments or traditional banks. A small but growing number of businesses, including Expedia and Microsoft, accept Bitcoins - which work like virtual tokens. However, the vast majority of users now buy and sell them as a financial investment. Only 15 of the nearly 200 wedding guests gave the happy couple \"traditional gifts\". Mr Sharma estimates they received Bitcoin worth 100,000 rupees ($1,559; PS1,169). \"The concept is good,\" said one relative who gifted them Bitcoin but did not wish to reveal his name. \"I am sure its acceptance will improve though many governments may not like it now.\" \"Prashant and Niti did not decide on Bitcoin as a gift in the last couple of weeks,\" said Ravi Shankar, another guest. \"It was planned a couple of months ago.\" The recent surge in the price of Bitcoin has led many to wonder if it is a bubble. Mr Sharma said this did not worry him much. \"If you buy something to sell it later then you are creating a bubble. We bought Bitcoin because we wanted to see how this technology moves forward,\" he said. \"Bitcoin is not the only thing that has potential. Blockchain technology is the real deal,\" he added. Blockchain, the technology underpinning Bitcoin, is a method of recording data - a digital ledger of transactions, agreements and contracts. Many banks have said it could transform the future of financial transactions. \"The disruptive potential of blockchain technology is so huge that it just cannot be banned,\" Mr Sharma said. Experts say they can understand why regulators are concerned. \"Regulators find that there is not enough transparency in the ownership and management of cryptocurrency,\" said Pranjal Sharma, an economic analyst. \"It is not that they are bull-headed or orthodox. Governments just want to be careful.\" Mr Sharma said he and his wife will sell the Bitcoins they have received to fund initiatives that educate underprivileged children.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1110, "answer_start": 669, "text": "There are two key traits of Bitcoin: it is digital and it is seen as an alternative currency. Unlike the notes or coins in your pocket, it largely exists online. Secondly, Bitcoin is not printed by governments or traditional banks. A small but growing number of businesses, including Expedia and Microsoft, accept Bitcoins - which work like virtual tokens. However, the vast majority of users now buy and sell them as a financial investment." } ], "id": "880_0", "question": "What is Bitcoin?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It is perhaps one of the great societal success stories of our time. Over the past 20 years, the teenage pregnancy rate in England and Wales has been more than halved. It is now at its lowest level since records began, in the 1960s. If that had been achieved in other areas of public health, such as say obesity, it would be lauded from the rooftops. Instead, the continued progress is now almost taken for granted after the ninth successive annual fall in rates. But how has this been achieved? In the past it has been suggested the rise of social media is to thank - the idea being that young people are spending more time socialising online. It is true the biggest drop has been seen in the past 10 years, a period in which social media has transformed the way people socialise and interact. Research by Ofcom has found that 16- to 24-year-olds spend more than 27 hours a week on the internet - almost three times the amount they did a decade before. And there is evidence that young people are becoming more responsible than previous generations in other ways. The numbers who don't drink is on the rise. But Alison Hadley, director of the Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange at the University of Bedfordshire, says neither of these factors have translated to teenagers of today having significantly less sex. \"The research doesn't show that,\" she says. \"Too much has been made of this idea. I would not discount it entirely. There are going to be a range of factors behind the fall. But I think other reasons are more significant.\" Instead, she believes the progress can be tracked back to the 1999 teenage pregnancy strategy, which she helped to implement. \"It was an evidence-based plan so people shouldn't be surprised it that it resulted in progress. \"The aspirations of young people and the attitudes of people have changed. That is what we envisaged when we launched the plan.\" The Office for National Statistics, which publishes the data, has also given credit to government policies. The start of the downward trend can be traced back to the late 1990s, when the government started planning the strategy and talking about the issue. That plan has led to a sustained effort on all sorts of levels. There has been a big push on improving the quality of sex education in schools, which is now being made mandatory. Access to emergency contraception - also known as the morning-after pill - has been widened too. Locally, councils and their health colleagues have been looking at ways to make services more accessible and youth-friendly. You only need to look at some of the areas that have made the most progress to see what has been done. In Bristol, the council has set up a network of drop-in sessions in secondary schools where pupils are given advice and can get contraception and even tests for sexually transmitted infections. In Hull a drop-in service was set up in the city centre. Rather than being a traditional clinic-style sexual health service, it installed sofas and a games console to normalise the service and encourage young people to use it. Similar projects can now be found up-and-down the country. But for how long? Isabel Inman, from young people's sexual health charity Brook, is worried cuts to council public health budgets could put services at risk. And if this is to happen she warns the progress that has been made could be \"severely jeopardised\". Read more from Nick Follow Nick on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1889, "answer_start": 496, "text": "In the past it has been suggested the rise of social media is to thank - the idea being that young people are spending more time socialising online. It is true the biggest drop has been seen in the past 10 years, a period in which social media has transformed the way people socialise and interact. Research by Ofcom has found that 16- to 24-year-olds spend more than 27 hours a week on the internet - almost three times the amount they did a decade before. And there is evidence that young people are becoming more responsible than previous generations in other ways. The numbers who don't drink is on the rise. But Alison Hadley, director of the Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange at the University of Bedfordshire, says neither of these factors have translated to teenagers of today having significantly less sex. \"The research doesn't show that,\" she says. \"Too much has been made of this idea. I would not discount it entirely. There are going to be a range of factors behind the fall. But I think other reasons are more significant.\" Instead, she believes the progress can be tracked back to the 1999 teenage pregnancy strategy, which she helped to implement. \"It was an evidence-based plan so people shouldn't be surprised it that it resulted in progress. \"The aspirations of young people and the attitudes of people have changed. That is what we envisaged when we launched the plan.\"" } ], "id": "881_0", "question": "Are teenagers swapping social media for sex?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Japanese game-maker Nintendo is about to release two new games in its hugely popular Pokemon series. But a decision to use only Mandarin Chinese names for the characters has proved controversial in Hong Kong. The BBC looks at why fans and linguists are so riled. Pokemon characters' names used to be translated differently in different parts of the Chinese-speaking world, to reflect local pronunciation. Hence, the hugely beloved Pikachu was known for decades as Bei-Ka-Ciu in Hong Kong, and Pi-Ka-Qiu in mainland China. But Nintendo announced earlier this year that it would be unifying the names of more than 100 Pokemon characters, and has renamed many of them according to the Mandarin translations. Both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers read Chinese, although people in Hong Kong use the traditional Chinese script while people on mainland China use simplified Chinese. However, the same words can be pronounced differently in each language. For example, Pikachu's new official Chinese name, Pi Qia Qiu , is pronounced Pi-Ka-Qiu in Mandarin. But in Cantonese, the characters would be pronounced Bei-Ka-Jau - which Hong Kong critics argue sound nothing like Pikachu's original name. More than 6,000 people signed a petition in March asking Nintendo to reverse its decision. Then on Monday dozens of people protested at the Japanese consulate. For a small but vocal group, the move has hit a nerve. \"Our main point is that the translation ignores Hong Kong's culture,\" said a spokesman from a Facebook group known as Petition to keep Regional Chinese Translations of Pokemon. \"There's no respect for it.\" \"We are aware of the reasons behind Nintendo's translation, presumably to make it easier for purposes such as publicity, but the move ignores a lot of players. We hope the Hong Kong market can be taken seriously and treated sincerely.\" The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says the dispute taps into growing local fears that Cantonese - along with local culture and tradition - is being supplanted by Mandarin. Prof Stephen Matthews of the School of Humanities, University of Hong Kong, agrees. \"It's seen in the current climate as creeping 'mainlandisation',\" he said. \"In the last few years people have felt that what makes Hong Kong special is disappearing bit by bit and what is an issue of Pokemon which is fairly trivial, becomes a big one because it's very sensitive.\" Just months ago, there were violent clashes between so-called \"localist\" anti-Beijing groups and police, in a dispute over food stalls. Last year, the city's Education Bureau caused an uproar when it suggested that Cantonese was not an official language, our correspondent says. Hong Kong residents, supported by many linguists, believe Cantonese is a proper language, on par with Mandarin. \"I think language is perhaps one of the most important things that marks Hong Kong from the rest of China,\" said Prof Matthews. \"It's crystal clear that Mandarin speakers cannot understand Cantonese and vice versa. They are not mutually intelligible.\" But in mainland China itself, the dizzyingly diverse range of regional forms of speech are known only as dialects, not languages in their own right. Earlier in February, Hong Kong officials received more than 10,000 complaints in three days after a TV programme began using subtitles in mainland Chinese characters instead of Hong Kong's traditional script. Hong Kong activist group Civic Passion organised Monday's demonstration. \"Pikachu has been in Hong Kong for more than 20 years,\" said Sing Leung, one of those who took part. \"It is not simply a game or comic book, it is the collective memory of a generation.\" \"It was a good decision for them to launch a Chinese version of the game, but it has not respected the culture and language of specific places.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1186, "answer_start": 263, "text": "Pokemon characters' names used to be translated differently in different parts of the Chinese-speaking world, to reflect local pronunciation. Hence, the hugely beloved Pikachu was known for decades as Bei-Ka-Ciu in Hong Kong, and Pi-Ka-Qiu in mainland China. But Nintendo announced earlier this year that it would be unifying the names of more than 100 Pokemon characters, and has renamed many of them according to the Mandarin translations. Both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers read Chinese, although people in Hong Kong use the traditional Chinese script while people on mainland China use simplified Chinese. However, the same words can be pronounced differently in each language. For example, Pikachu's new official Chinese name, Pi Qia Qiu , is pronounced Pi-Ka-Qiu in Mandarin. But in Cantonese, the characters would be pronounced Bei-Ka-Jau - which Hong Kong critics argue sound nothing like Pikachu's original name." } ], "id": "882_0", "question": "1. What's in a name - Beikaciu or Pikaqiu?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Jeremy Corbyn has urged the leaders of the other opposition parties and Tory rebels to install him as caretaker PM in order to stop a no-deal Brexit. If he wins a no-confidence vote in the government, the Labour leader plans to delay Brexit, call a snap election and campaign for another referendum. But Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said she would not support making Mr Corbyn prime minister. She called him \"divisive\" and said he would not command MPs' support. In speech on Thursday, she said her party would work with others to stop a no-deal exit but Mr Corbyn was not a leader \"respected on both sides of the House\". Instead, she suggested Tory MP Ken Clarke or Labour's Harriet Harman could lead an emergency government to prevent a no-deal on the 31 October deadline. She added that MPs should \"stand and be counted\" and try to pass legislation in Parliament to ensure the UK does not leave without an agreement with the EU. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP would \"work with anybody at Westminster to try to stop Brexit, and avert the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit.\" \"I think the thing for Jeremy Corbyn though is he has to finally and firmly come off the fence on Brexit and stop trying to equivocate and prevaricate,\" she said. Downing Street said Mr Corbyn would \"overrule the referendum and wreck the economy\" if he became prime minister. A No 10 spokesman said: \"Jeremy Corbyn believes that the people are the servants and politicians can cancel public votes they don't like.\" Mr Corbyn asked opposition figures and Tory rebels for their support in a letter on Wednesday, pledging that a government led by him would be \"strictly time-limited\". He said he would call a no-confidence vote - which would require majority support - at the \"earliest opportunity when we can be confident of success\". If he were to succeed in calling a general election - which would require the support of two-thirds of MPs - Labour would campaign for a second referendum with the option to remain in the EU, he said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants a deal with the European Union, but insists the UK must leave the bloc by the end of October \"do or die\". - Green MP Caroline Lucas welcomed Mr Corbyn's call for a vote of no confidence but insisted a referendum must be held before any general election - Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts said she welcomed any attempt to stop no-deal but said it was \"disappointing\" that Mr Corbyn would not commit to calling a referendum before an election - The Independent Group for Change leader Anna Soubry, who was not sent the letter, said Mr Corbyn \"doesn't even command respect and support from his own party never mind across the political divide\". Also receiving the letter were Tory MPs Dominic Grieve, Sir Oliver Letwin and Dame Caroline Spelman, and Nick Boles, the independent MP who quit the Tory Party over Brexit. Responding on Thursday, they said they were happy to support cross-party work to block no deal and meet Mr Corbyn and MPs from other parties in the coming weeks. BBC political correspondent Tom Barton said the initial response from the other parties suggests Mr Corbyn probably doesn't have the numbers to get his plan through. \"There are plenty of MPs who say they want to stop a no-deal Brexit but getting them to agree on how to do it - that's a different matter altogether,\" he says. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner criticised Ms Swinson for saying she wouldn't support a Corbyn-led government, accusing her of \"political point-scoring\". \"Our leader is Jeremy Corbyn and she should respect his title as the official opposition\", she tweeted. \"When you're looking at no-deal Brexit and our country in peril, to say 'I'm not working with him because I don't like him' is a very childish thing to do\". It comes after the prime minister accused MPs \"who think they can block Brexit\" of a \"terrible collaboration\" with the EU. Mr Johnson said the EU had become less willing to compromise on a new deal with the UK because of the opposition to leaving in Parliament. He said this increased the likelihood of the UK being \"forced to leave with a no-deal\" in October. Mr Johnson wants the EU to ditch the Irish border backstop plan from his predecessor Theresa May's deal, which was rejected three times by Parliament. But the EU has continued to insist the policy - intended to guarantee there will not be a hard border on the island of Ireland - must remain and cannot be changed. If the government loses a no-confidence motion, it would trigger a critical 14-day period, after which a general election could be triggered. If Mr Johnson failed to win such a vote, then a general election would be called. There are no firm rules about who else, if anyone, should get the chance to form an alternative government during this time. The leader of the opposition is clearly a likely candidate, but that is not an inevitable outcome. The Cabinet Manual - a document which sets out the main rules covering the working of government - suggests that the principles applied should be similar to those after an election in which no one party wins a majority. That means that the old prime minister should only resign if and when it's clear that somebody is more likely to have the support of MPs. So it's possible that the existing prime minister would stay in place, or that more than one leader would get a chance. Mr Johnson has a working majority of just one in the House of Commons, with the backing of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party. What is a vote of no confidence?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5597, "answer_start": 4502, "text": "If the government loses a no-confidence motion, it would trigger a critical 14-day period, after which a general election could be triggered. If Mr Johnson failed to win such a vote, then a general election would be called. There are no firm rules about who else, if anyone, should get the chance to form an alternative government during this time. The leader of the opposition is clearly a likely candidate, but that is not an inevitable outcome. The Cabinet Manual - a document which sets out the main rules covering the working of government - suggests that the principles applied should be similar to those after an election in which no one party wins a majority. That means that the old prime minister should only resign if and when it's clear that somebody is more likely to have the support of MPs. So it's possible that the existing prime minister would stay in place, or that more than one leader would get a chance. Mr Johnson has a working majority of just one in the House of Commons, with the backing of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party. What is a vote of no confidence?" } ], "id": "883_0", "question": "What is a vote of no confidence?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Workplace bans on the wearing of \"any political, philosophical or religious sign\" such as headscarves need not constitute direct discrimination, Europe's top court has ruled. But the ban must be based on internal company rules requiring all employees to \"dress neutrally\", said the European Court of Justice (ECJ). It cannot be based on the wishes of a customer, it added. This is the court's first ruling on the wearing of headscarves at work. The ECJ's ruling was prompted by the case of a receptionist fired for wearing a headscarf to work at the security company G4S in Belgium. The issues of Muslim dress and the integration of immigrant communities have featured prominently in debates in several European countries in recent years. Austria and the German state of Bavaria have recently announced bans on full-face veils in public spaces. Rights group Amnesty International said Tuesday's ECJ rulings were \"disappointing\" and \"opened a backdoor to... prejudice\". The ECJ was ruling on the case of Samira Achbita, fired in June 2006 when, after three years of employment, she began wearing a headscarf to work. She claimed she was being directly discriminated against on the grounds of her religion and Belgium's court of cassation referred the case to the EU's top court for clarification. At the time of Ms Achbita's hiring, an \"unwritten rule\" had been in operation banning overt religious symbols, and the company subsequently went on to include this explicitly in its workplace regulations, the court explained. G4S's rules prohibited \"any manifestation of such beliefs without distinction\", and were therefore not directly discriminatory, the court said. It said \"an employer's desire to project an image of neutrality towards both its public and private sector customers is legitimate\" - but national courts had to make sure this policy of neutrality was applied equally to all employees. In practice, such a policy must therefore also ban other religious insignia such as crucifixes, skullcaps and turbans, the court confirmed to the BBC. But the court was not absolute in its ruling - workplaces still have a duty to show that they have also not enabled indirect discrimination - whereby people adhering to a particular religion or belief are in practice put at a particular disadvantage, unless that is \"objectively justified by a legitimate aim\" achieved by means that are \"appropriate and necessary\". For instance, the Belgian court ruling on Ms Achbita's case would need to ascertain whether it could have been possible to offer her another post not involving visual contact with customers. That won't do - the court ruled that any ban could not be based on \"subjective considerations\" such as the preferences of an individual customer. \"The willingness of an employer to take account of the wishes of a customer no longer to have the services of that employer provided by a worker wearing an Islamic headscarf cannot be considered a genuine and determining occupational requirement,\" the court said. It was referring to another case referred to in this ruling - that of design engineer Asma Bougnaoui, who lost her job at French firm Micropole, after a customer complained that she wore an Islamic headscarf. A French court would have to determine whether the company in this case had dismissed Ms Bougnaoui solely to satisfy a customer or in accordance with a wider internal prohibition on religious symbols, the court ruled. For years, courts across Europe have faced complex decisions on religious symbols in the workplace. Jonathan Chamberlain, a partner at UK firm Gowling WLG, told the BBC that Tuesday's ruling reflected \"what has been the UK's approach for some years\". Germany's constitutional court ruled in 2015 a ban on teachers wearing the headscarf across the country's 16 states was unconstitutional. Such a measure was only justified if religious symbols represented a \"concrete danger, or the disturbance of school peace\". John Dalhuisen, director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia programme, said the ECJ's decision gave \"greater leeway to employers to discriminate against women - and men - on the grounds of religious belief\". \"The court did say that employers are not at liberty to pander to the prejudices of their clients. But by ruling that company policies can prohibit religious symbols on the grounds of neutrality, they have opened a backdoor to precisely such prejudice.\" The Conference of European Rabbis said: \"With the rise of racially motivated incidents and today's decision, Europe is sending a clear message; its faith communities are no longer welcome.\" But the British Humanist Association's Andrew Copson said: \"We need to take an approach that balances everyone's rights fairly and we are pleased that the European Court of Justice has today appeared to reinforce that principle.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1521, "answer_start": 969, "text": "The ECJ was ruling on the case of Samira Achbita, fired in June 2006 when, after three years of employment, she began wearing a headscarf to work. She claimed she was being directly discriminated against on the grounds of her religion and Belgium's court of cassation referred the case to the EU's top court for clarification. At the time of Ms Achbita's hiring, an \"unwritten rule\" had been in operation banning overt religious symbols, and the company subsequently went on to include this explicitly in its workplace regulations, the court explained." } ], "id": "884_0", "question": "What's the background to the decision?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2608, "answer_start": 1522, "text": "G4S's rules prohibited \"any manifestation of such beliefs without distinction\", and were therefore not directly discriminatory, the court said. It said \"an employer's desire to project an image of neutrality towards both its public and private sector customers is legitimate\" - but national courts had to make sure this policy of neutrality was applied equally to all employees. In practice, such a policy must therefore also ban other religious insignia such as crucifixes, skullcaps and turbans, the court confirmed to the BBC. But the court was not absolute in its ruling - workplaces still have a duty to show that they have also not enabled indirect discrimination - whereby people adhering to a particular religion or belief are in practice put at a particular disadvantage, unless that is \"objectively justified by a legitimate aim\" achieved by means that are \"appropriate and necessary\". For instance, the Belgian court ruling on Ms Achbita's case would need to ascertain whether it could have been possible to offer her another post not involving visual contact with customers." } ], "id": "884_1", "question": "Does the ruling affect other religious symbols?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3445, "answer_start": 2609, "text": "That won't do - the court ruled that any ban could not be based on \"subjective considerations\" such as the preferences of an individual customer. \"The willingness of an employer to take account of the wishes of a customer no longer to have the services of that employer provided by a worker wearing an Islamic headscarf cannot be considered a genuine and determining occupational requirement,\" the court said. It was referring to another case referred to in this ruling - that of design engineer Asma Bougnaoui, who lost her job at French firm Micropole, after a customer complained that she wore an Islamic headscarf. A French court would have to determine whether the company in this case had dismissed Ms Bougnaoui solely to satisfy a customer or in accordance with a wider internal prohibition on religious symbols, the court ruled." } ], "id": "884_2", "question": "What if a customer complains about a headscarf?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4856, "answer_start": 3446, "text": "For years, courts across Europe have faced complex decisions on religious symbols in the workplace. Jonathan Chamberlain, a partner at UK firm Gowling WLG, told the BBC that Tuesday's ruling reflected \"what has been the UK's approach for some years\". Germany's constitutional court ruled in 2015 a ban on teachers wearing the headscarf across the country's 16 states was unconstitutional. Such a measure was only justified if religious symbols represented a \"concrete danger, or the disturbance of school peace\". John Dalhuisen, director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia programme, said the ECJ's decision gave \"greater leeway to employers to discriminate against women - and men - on the grounds of religious belief\". \"The court did say that employers are not at liberty to pander to the prejudices of their clients. But by ruling that company policies can prohibit religious symbols on the grounds of neutrality, they have opened a backdoor to precisely such prejudice.\" The Conference of European Rabbis said: \"With the rise of racially motivated incidents and today's decision, Europe is sending a clear message; its faith communities are no longer welcome.\" But the British Humanist Association's Andrew Copson said: \"We need to take an approach that balances everyone's rights fairly and we are pleased that the European Court of Justice has today appeared to reinforce that principle.\"" } ], "id": "884_3", "question": "How has this ruling been received?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The government must devise a new plan to clean the air after losing two court cases. As part of the So I Can Breathe series, we examine air pollution in the UK. Who is most to blame and what should be done? Air pollution is a major contributor to ill health in the UK, but it's hard to say exactly by how much. Dirty air doesn't directly kill people. But it's estimated in the UK to contribute to the shortening of the lives of around 40,000 people a year, principally by undermining the health of people with heart or lung problems. Headlines claiming that pollution kills 40,000 are just wrong - it's more subtle than that. It's also wrong to say pollution in the UK is rising. The 40,000 pollution-related deaths figure is not a count of actual deaths - it's a statistical construct, with a lot of uncertainty involved. Government advisers say the 40,000 number might be a sixth as big - or twice as big. Pollution clearly is a problem, though. And, remember, it doesn't just contribute to early deaths, it also compromises the health of people suffering from ailments like asthma and hay fever. In cities globally, pollution is increasing. In the UK, air pollution nationally has been generally dropping (except from ammonia from farming). But despite the overall fall, in many big UK cities safe limits on harmful particulates and oxides of nitrogen - NOx - are still regularly breached. And in London, NOx levels at the roadside have barely dropped at all. Experts in air pollution argue that it has been under-reported for decades, but the issue has been thrust into the news because the UK government lost court cases over illegally dirty air, and because car makers were found to be cheating tests on car emissions. Scientists are also more confident now about the ways that air pollution harms people. It has even recently been linked with dementia, although that link remains debatable. Yes and no. Diesel car manufacturers drew fire by cheating emissions tests. Diesels are much more polluting than petrol cars on a local scale, and the biggest proportion of pollution in UK cities does come from road transport in general. But if you look at Greater London (London stats are the most detailed) you see that private diesel cars contribute 11% of NOx - less than you might have thought. Lorries - with far fewer numbers on the roads - produce the same amount. Zoom into Central London, and just 5% of NOx comes from private diesel cars. That is dwarfed by 38% from gas for heating homes and offices. There are many other sources of pollution, including buses, taxis, industry and other machinery, such as on building sites. So it's a many-sided problem. Solving air pollution needs a many-sided approach. The best value for money comes from targeting the really big individual polluters - that's old buses and lorries in cities. Most big cities are already doing that, although critics say not fast enough. Insulating homes so they don't burn as much gas, would save pollution, cash and carbon emissions in the long term - but critics say the government appears to have no strategy for this. Stopping the spread of wood-burning stoves in cities might help a bit. Cutting pollution from ships would be good in port cities. Reducing use of some chemicals in the home would help a little. A previous government encouraged drivers to buy diesel vehicles because they produced fewer emissions of greenhouse gases. Incentives for diesel were removed in 1999. Petrol cars are now almost as efficient and are much less polluting locally, so scientists say it makes sense to tax diesel cars extra. Politicians are nervous upsetting drivers, and we shall have to wait to the Budget to see how they respond. Ministers are also under pressure to offer a PS3,500 incentive for drivers to scrap old diesel cars, which would incentivise the purchase of new cleaner vehicles. The Green party says it would be perverse to reward car makers with increased sales when they caused the problem in the first place by failing on their promises to government to make diesel engines clean. Follow Roger on Twitter. A week of coverage by BBC News examining possible solutions to the problems caused by air pollution.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 533, "answer_start": 207, "text": "Air pollution is a major contributor to ill health in the UK, but it's hard to say exactly by how much. Dirty air doesn't directly kill people. But it's estimated in the UK to contribute to the shortening of the lives of around 40,000 people a year, principally by undermining the health of people with heart or lung problems." } ], "id": "885_0", "question": "How bad is UK air pollution?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1098, "answer_start": 534, "text": "Headlines claiming that pollution kills 40,000 are just wrong - it's more subtle than that. It's also wrong to say pollution in the UK is rising. The 40,000 pollution-related deaths figure is not a count of actual deaths - it's a statistical construct, with a lot of uncertainty involved. Government advisers say the 40,000 number might be a sixth as big - or twice as big. Pollution clearly is a problem, though. And, remember, it doesn't just contribute to early deaths, it also compromises the health of people suffering from ailments like asthma and hay fever." } ], "id": "885_1", "question": "How accurate are media headlines about 40,000 deaths?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1462, "answer_start": 1099, "text": "In cities globally, pollution is increasing. In the UK, air pollution nationally has been generally dropping (except from ammonia from farming). But despite the overall fall, in many big UK cities safe limits on harmful particulates and oxides of nitrogen - NOx - are still regularly breached. And in London, NOx levels at the roadside have barely dropped at all." } ], "id": "885_2", "question": "Is pollution increasing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1897, "answer_start": 1463, "text": "Experts in air pollution argue that it has been under-reported for decades, but the issue has been thrust into the news because the UK government lost court cases over illegally dirty air, and because car makers were found to be cheating tests on car emissions. Scientists are also more confident now about the ways that air pollution harms people. It has even recently been linked with dementia, although that link remains debatable." } ], "id": "885_3", "question": "Why is there so much concern at the moment?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2664, "answer_start": 1898, "text": "Yes and no. Diesel car manufacturers drew fire by cheating emissions tests. Diesels are much more polluting than petrol cars on a local scale, and the biggest proportion of pollution in UK cities does come from road transport in general. But if you look at Greater London (London stats are the most detailed) you see that private diesel cars contribute 11% of NOx - less than you might have thought. Lorries - with far fewer numbers on the roads - produce the same amount. Zoom into Central London, and just 5% of NOx comes from private diesel cars. That is dwarfed by 38% from gas for heating homes and offices. There are many other sources of pollution, including buses, taxis, industry and other machinery, such as on building sites. So it's a many-sided problem." } ], "id": "885_4", "question": "Diesel cars seem to be portrayed as the main villains. Is that fair?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3296, "answer_start": 2665, "text": "Solving air pollution needs a many-sided approach. The best value for money comes from targeting the really big individual polluters - that's old buses and lorries in cities. Most big cities are already doing that, although critics say not fast enough. Insulating homes so they don't burn as much gas, would save pollution, cash and carbon emissions in the long term - but critics say the government appears to have no strategy for this. Stopping the spread of wood-burning stoves in cities might help a bit. Cutting pollution from ships would be good in port cities. Reducing use of some chemicals in the home would help a little." } ], "id": "885_5", "question": "What should we do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4100, "answer_start": 3297, "text": "A previous government encouraged drivers to buy diesel vehicles because they produced fewer emissions of greenhouse gases. Incentives for diesel were removed in 1999. Petrol cars are now almost as efficient and are much less polluting locally, so scientists say it makes sense to tax diesel cars extra. Politicians are nervous upsetting drivers, and we shall have to wait to the Budget to see how they respond. Ministers are also under pressure to offer a PS3,500 incentive for drivers to scrap old diesel cars, which would incentivise the purchase of new cleaner vehicles. The Green party says it would be perverse to reward car makers with increased sales when they caused the problem in the first place by failing on their promises to government to make diesel engines clean. Follow Roger on Twitter." } ], "id": "885_6", "question": "What about taxing diesel cars more?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A new prime minister will be in Downing Street by the end of July, according to the Conservative Party. A statement from the party's chairman and the backbench 1922 Committee said nominations for the leadership would close in the week starting 10 June. MPs will then whittle the candidates down to two by the end of June, before party members vote for their choice ahead of Parliament's summer recess. The statement praised Theresa May for her \"dedication, courage and tenacity\". Mrs May announced earlier that she will quit as Conservative leader on 7 June, but would continue to serve as PM while a leadership contest takes place. In the joint statement from Tory MPs Brandon Lewis, Dame Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker, they said their focus would be on \"facilitating a full, fair and frank debate and contest\". \"We are deeply conscious that the Conservatives are not just selecting the person best placed to become the new leader of our party, but also the next prime minister of the United Kingdom,\" they said. \"We will therefore propose that the leadership election and hustings involve opportunities for non-members and people who may not yet vote Conservative to meet the candidates and put their questions to them too.\" Four MPs have announced they will run for the leadership so far: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart. More than a dozen others are believed to be seriously considering entering the contest. Sir Graham Brady has stood down as chair of the 1922 Committee, having been \"urged\" by MPs to stand for the leadership. He said he was \"considering the approaches... and will make a decision in due course\". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said whoever takes over as prime minister should call an \"immediate\" general election to \"let the people decide our country's future\". The Conservative Party will be in charge of picking the next prime minister through their own leadership contest. Any Tory MP can stand, as long as they have the backing of two parliamentary colleagues. When nominations have closed, all the party's 313 MPs will vote for their preferred candidate. After the first vote, the candidate who comes last will be struck from the list, and MPs will get to vote again. This process will continue until they have whittled down the candidates to just two. After a round of hustings - allowing the leadership contenders to make their case and for people to question them - the final decision will be put to Conservative Party members. Whoever those 124,000 people vote for will then become prime minister. - 7 June - Theresa May stands down as party leader - Week commencing 10 June - Nominations for leadership candidates close - 30 June - Expected deadline for rounds of votes to conclude - July - Campaign hustings around the UK and party members' vote - By summer recess (expected at the end of July) - New leader announced and becomes prime minister", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2670, "answer_start": 1926, "text": "The Conservative Party will be in charge of picking the next prime minister through their own leadership contest. Any Tory MP can stand, as long as they have the backing of two parliamentary colleagues. When nominations have closed, all the party's 313 MPs will vote for their preferred candidate. After the first vote, the candidate who comes last will be struck from the list, and MPs will get to vote again. This process will continue until they have whittled down the candidates to just two. After a round of hustings - allowing the leadership contenders to make their case and for people to question them - the final decision will be put to Conservative Party members. Whoever those 124,000 people vote for will then become prime minister." } ], "id": "886_0", "question": "How will the next PM be chosen?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Iran has announced it will breach on 27 June the limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium that was set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Its atomic energy agency said it had quadrupled production of the material, which is used to make reactor fuel and potentially nuclear weapons. But it added there was \"still time\" for European countries to act by protecting Iran from reinstated US sanctions. The US, which pulled out of the deal, accused Iran of \"nuclear extortion\". \"This is a pattern of 40 years of behaviour, it's consistent with how the Iranian regime behaves,\" US state department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. \"We would say to the international community that we should not yield to nuclear extortion by the Iranian regime.\" The UK, France and Germany have warned Iran not to violate the 2015 deal. They have previously said they will have no choice but to reimpose their own sanctions, which were lifted in return for limits on the Iranian nuclear programme. In a separate development, Iran said it had broken up a cyber spying network run by the CIA. It said several US spies had been arrested in different countries. The US did not immediately comment on the allegation. The latest developments come at a time of high tension in the Middle East, with the US accusing Iran of being behind suspected attacks that left two oil tankers ablaze in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. Iran has denied any involvement. Context in international affairs is everything. In early May, Iran signalled its intention to break out from some of the constraints imposed by the nuclear deal. On Monday, it repeated that threat, adding that the rate of enrichment was being stepped up and that it expected to break the limit on the amount of low-enriched uranium it can hold before the end of this month. But since its first announcement, the context has changed dramatically with two sets of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf - both attributed by the US to Iran. Many fear that Washington and Tehran are on the verge of a military clash and that miscalculation could tip them over the edge. Iran's further threat today to increase its level of enrichment to a stage that would bring it much closer to \"weapons-grade\" material adds another element of risk into an already combustible mix. Enriched uranium is produced by feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into centrifuges to separate out the most fissile isotope, U-235. Under the nuclear deal, Iran is only permitted to produce low-enriched uranium, which has a 3-4% concentration of U-235 and can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. \"Weapons-grade\" uranium is 90% enriched or more. Iran has complained that European powers have failed to abide by their commitments to mitigate the effects on its economy of the sanctions that US President Donald Trump reinstated after abandoning the nuclear deal last year. Mr Trump wants to force Iran to renegotiate the accord and agree to curb its ballistic missile programme and end its \"malign\" activities in the Middle East. In early May, the US stepped up pressure on Iran by ending exemptions from secondary sanctions for countries still buying Iranian oil. The move was intended to deny the Iranian government its principal source of revenue. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani subsequently announced that his country was scaling back its commitments under the nuclear deal. This included no longer complying with caps on its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium and heavy water - set at 300kg (660lb) and 130 tonnes respectively - and halting sales of surplus supplies overseas. Mr Rouhani also gave the European powers 60 days to protect Iranian oil sales. If they failed, he said, Iran would suspend its restrictions on uranium enrichment and halt the redesign of its heavy-water reactor at Arak, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb. On Monday, a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran told a televised news conference at Arak that the \"countdown to pass the 300kg reserve of enriched uranium has started\". \"In 10 days' time... we will pass this limit,\" Behrouz Kamalvandi said. \"There is still time for the Europeans... But the Europeans have expressed indirectly their inability to act. They should not think that after 60 days, they will have another 60-day opportunity.\" The Europeans have set up a \"special purpose vehicle\" that would essentially allow goods to be bartered between Iranian and foreign companies without direct financial transactions. But the mechanism - known as Instex - is not yet operational. Mr Kamalvandi also said Iran might start enriching uranium up to 5% concentration so that it could provide fuel for its Bushehr power plant, or even up to the 20% concentration required for the Tehran research reactor. Experts say the technical leap required to get to 90% concentration from 20% is relatively straightforward, because it becomes easier at higher levels. Going from the natural state of 0.7% concentration to 20% takes 90% of the total energy required. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Theresa May said her government had been \"clear about our concern at Iranian plans to reduce compliance\" with the deal. \"Should Iran cease meeting its nuclear commitments, we would then look at all options available to us,\" the spokesman added. The German foreign ministry urged Iran to abide by the deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was a staunch opponent of the nuclear deal, called for international sanctions to be reimposed immediately \"should Iran deliver on its current threats\". \"In any event, Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weaponry,\" he warned.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2292, "answer_start": 1434, "text": "Context in international affairs is everything. In early May, Iran signalled its intention to break out from some of the constraints imposed by the nuclear deal. On Monday, it repeated that threat, adding that the rate of enrichment was being stepped up and that it expected to break the limit on the amount of low-enriched uranium it can hold before the end of this month. But since its first announcement, the context has changed dramatically with two sets of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf - both attributed by the US to Iran. Many fear that Washington and Tehran are on the verge of a military clash and that miscalculation could tip them over the edge. Iran's further threat today to increase its level of enrichment to a stage that would bring it much closer to \"weapons-grade\" material adds another element of risk into an already combustible mix." } ], "id": "887_0", "question": "How significant is this announcement?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2650, "answer_start": 2293, "text": "Enriched uranium is produced by feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into centrifuges to separate out the most fissile isotope, U-235. Under the nuclear deal, Iran is only permitted to produce low-enriched uranium, which has a 3-4% concentration of U-235 and can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. \"Weapons-grade\" uranium is 90% enriched or more." } ], "id": "887_1", "question": "What is enriched uranium?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5104, "answer_start": 2651, "text": "Iran has complained that European powers have failed to abide by their commitments to mitigate the effects on its economy of the sanctions that US President Donald Trump reinstated after abandoning the nuclear deal last year. Mr Trump wants to force Iran to renegotiate the accord and agree to curb its ballistic missile programme and end its \"malign\" activities in the Middle East. In early May, the US stepped up pressure on Iran by ending exemptions from secondary sanctions for countries still buying Iranian oil. The move was intended to deny the Iranian government its principal source of revenue. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani subsequently announced that his country was scaling back its commitments under the nuclear deal. This included no longer complying with caps on its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium and heavy water - set at 300kg (660lb) and 130 tonnes respectively - and halting sales of surplus supplies overseas. Mr Rouhani also gave the European powers 60 days to protect Iranian oil sales. If they failed, he said, Iran would suspend its restrictions on uranium enrichment and halt the redesign of its heavy-water reactor at Arak, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb. On Monday, a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran told a televised news conference at Arak that the \"countdown to pass the 300kg reserve of enriched uranium has started\". \"In 10 days' time... we will pass this limit,\" Behrouz Kamalvandi said. \"There is still time for the Europeans... But the Europeans have expressed indirectly their inability to act. They should not think that after 60 days, they will have another 60-day opportunity.\" The Europeans have set up a \"special purpose vehicle\" that would essentially allow goods to be bartered between Iranian and foreign companies without direct financial transactions. But the mechanism - known as Instex - is not yet operational. Mr Kamalvandi also said Iran might start enriching uranium up to 5% concentration so that it could provide fuel for its Bushehr power plant, or even up to the 20% concentration required for the Tehran research reactor. Experts say the technical leap required to get to 90% concentration from 20% is relatively straightforward, because it becomes easier at higher levels. Going from the natural state of 0.7% concentration to 20% takes 90% of the total energy required. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes." } ], "id": "887_2", "question": "Why has Iran increased its enrichment rate?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5723, "answer_start": 5105, "text": "A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Theresa May said her government had been \"clear about our concern at Iranian plans to reduce compliance\" with the deal. \"Should Iran cease meeting its nuclear commitments, we would then look at all options available to us,\" the spokesman added. The German foreign ministry urged Iran to abide by the deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was a staunch opponent of the nuclear deal, called for international sanctions to be reimposed immediately \"should Iran deliver on its current threats\". \"In any event, Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weaponry,\" he warned." } ], "id": "887_3", "question": "What other reaction has there been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Turkey's currency, the lira, has hit record lows, creating a headache for the country's president and pushing up prices on everyday items. But there is one area reaping the benefits: tourism. Bookings to Turkey have gone up in recent months - although the exact cause is, of course, hard to say. A favourable exchange rate though can't have harmed the situation: on Friday, the US dollar would buy almost six Turkish lira; at the end of January, it would have got you less than four. So what has happened to send the lira on a downward spiral and should more tourists take advantage? The value of Turkey's currency has nosedived since January and has lost more than 34% of its value against the dollar. It hit a record low on Thursday evening, reaching 6.30 to the dollar, although it has since recovered slightly. The stock market has also fallen 17%, while government borrowing costs have risen to 18% a year, according to Andrew Walker, the BBC World Service economics correspondent. Meanwhile, inflation in Turkey has hit 15%. A combination of factors, according to experts, have led to fears the country is sliding into an economic crisis. For a start, investors are worried that Turkish companies that borrowed heavily to profit from a construction boom may struggle to repay loans in dollars and euros, as the weakened lira means there is now more to pay back. Then there are Turkey's worsening relations with the US. Donald Trump's administration hit its justice and interior ministers with sanctions last week, a reaction to the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has has been held for nearly two years over alleged links to political groups. The US dealt Turkey and the lira a further blow in a tweet on Friday, in which Mr Trump said he had approved the doubling of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium. Nafez Zouk, an economist at Oxford Economics, told the BBC's Today programme earlier this week that these problems were further compounded by a \"political set-up which is unconducive to proper economic management\". Indeed, much of the recent concern has been fuelled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's economic policy. In many nations, including the US and EU states, the central bank is independent of government and no one can tell it what to do with interest rates. This means it can keep control of inflation by raising them when necessary. But in Turkey, Mr Erdogan has made sure he controls the reins. Early last month, he claimed the exclusive power to appoint the bankers that set interest rates - and to cement his control he has put his son-in-law in charge of economic policy. And if he is flustered by the current situation, he isn't showing it. On Thursday, he urged supporters not to worry, saying that while overseas investors had dollars, Turks had Allah. If the right policies were applied. But while Mr Erdogan - who vowed Turkey would win the \"economic war\" - favours lowering borrowing costs to fuel credit growth and economic expansion, others would rather see interest rates rise. But Mr Erdogan is famously averse to interest rate rises, and there are fears he may be pressuring the central bank not to act. Meanwhile, ING economist Carsten Brzeski told news agency Reuters \"some kind of... involvement\" by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was \"getting closer\". Solving Turkey's tensions with the US would also likely go some way to quell nerves. However, the Financial Times points to analysts who suggest Turkey will probably just wait it out. Well, if you want azure seas, ancient temples and a holiday which most likely costs less than it did last year, then yes. Eagle-eyed Brits have already figured this out, it seems, with travel agents reporting a rise in bookings. Holiday company Thomas Cook has seen a 63% rise in bookings to Turkey, while TUI said it was their third most popular destination meaning it was \"well and truly back on the map as a top summer holiday location\". However, the UK Foreign Office still recommends against all but essential travel to a number of regions, mainly along the border with Syria, and says not to travel within 10km (six miles) of the border at all, due to the ongoing Syrian war. The US, meanwhile, rates Turkey at level three, urging people to reconsider travel to the region.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1030, "answer_start": 584, "text": "The value of Turkey's currency has nosedived since January and has lost more than 34% of its value against the dollar. It hit a record low on Thursday evening, reaching 6.30 to the dollar, although it has since recovered slightly. The stock market has also fallen 17%, while government borrowing costs have risen to 18% a year, according to Andrew Walker, the BBC World Service economics correspondent. Meanwhile, inflation in Turkey has hit 15%." } ], "id": "888_0", "question": "What's happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2803, "answer_start": 1031, "text": "A combination of factors, according to experts, have led to fears the country is sliding into an economic crisis. For a start, investors are worried that Turkish companies that borrowed heavily to profit from a construction boom may struggle to repay loans in dollars and euros, as the weakened lira means there is now more to pay back. Then there are Turkey's worsening relations with the US. Donald Trump's administration hit its justice and interior ministers with sanctions last week, a reaction to the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has has been held for nearly two years over alleged links to political groups. The US dealt Turkey and the lira a further blow in a tweet on Friday, in which Mr Trump said he had approved the doubling of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium. Nafez Zouk, an economist at Oxford Economics, told the BBC's Today programme earlier this week that these problems were further compounded by a \"political set-up which is unconducive to proper economic management\". Indeed, much of the recent concern has been fuelled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's economic policy. In many nations, including the US and EU states, the central bank is independent of government and no one can tell it what to do with interest rates. This means it can keep control of inflation by raising them when necessary. But in Turkey, Mr Erdogan has made sure he controls the reins. Early last month, he claimed the exclusive power to appoint the bankers that set interest rates - and to cement his control he has put his son-in-law in charge of economic policy. And if he is flustered by the current situation, he isn't showing it. On Thursday, he urged supporters not to worry, saying that while overseas investors had dollars, Turks had Allah." } ], "id": "888_1", "question": "What caused this nosedive?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3505, "answer_start": 2804, "text": "If the right policies were applied. But while Mr Erdogan - who vowed Turkey would win the \"economic war\" - favours lowering borrowing costs to fuel credit growth and economic expansion, others would rather see interest rates rise. But Mr Erdogan is famously averse to interest rate rises, and there are fears he may be pressuring the central bank not to act. Meanwhile, ING economist Carsten Brzeski told news agency Reuters \"some kind of... involvement\" by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was \"getting closer\". Solving Turkey's tensions with the US would also likely go some way to quell nerves. However, the Financial Times points to analysts who suggest Turkey will probably just wait it out." } ], "id": "888_2", "question": "Can its fall be stopped?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4285, "answer_start": 3506, "text": "Well, if you want azure seas, ancient temples and a holiday which most likely costs less than it did last year, then yes. Eagle-eyed Brits have already figured this out, it seems, with travel agents reporting a rise in bookings. Holiday company Thomas Cook has seen a 63% rise in bookings to Turkey, while TUI said it was their third most popular destination meaning it was \"well and truly back on the map as a top summer holiday location\". However, the UK Foreign Office still recommends against all but essential travel to a number of regions, mainly along the border with Syria, and says not to travel within 10km (six miles) of the border at all, due to the ongoing Syrian war. The US, meanwhile, rates Turkey at level three, urging people to reconsider travel to the region." } ], "id": "888_3", "question": "So, is now the time to go to Turkey?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A three-year-old boy is the latest child to die in South Africa after drowning in a pit latrine. Omari Monono died in the outside toilet at his aunt's house in Limpopo province, the same region where five-year-old Michael Komape drowned in a school toilet in 2014. \"I'm hurting. I cannot eat or sleep,\" Omari's mother, Kwena Monono, is quoted by IOL news site as saying. \"Every time I see something my son loved, my heart breaks and I just cry.\" She says her son \"was pulled out of the toilet head-first at about 16:00 (14:00GMT) on Wednesday\", having gone missing two hours earlier. Police say the boy's aunt called for help when her own search failed. \"His aunt took off his clothes and left him to relieve himself outside the toilet as usual. She was busy with her house chores when she noticed she had not seen the toddler for some time,\" police spokesperson Constable Maphure Manamela said. A police inquiry is now under way. Pit latrines, sometimes called long-drop toilets, are a type of toilet that collects faeces in a hole in the ground. They are classed as basic sanitation. Yet an estimated 27% of South Africans do not have access to even basic sanitation, according to the charity Water Aid. That is slightly lower than the global average of one third. The UN defines basic sanitation as: - a flush or pour-flush toilet linked to a piped sewer system - pit latrines with a slab, septic tank or ventilation - a composting toilet. About one in five South African schools have pit latrine toilets. Human rights law firm Section27, which is representing Michael Komape's family in their appeals case for 3m rand ($221,000; $166,000) in damages, have called this latest death \"very tragic and sad\". Spokesperson Zukiswa Pikoli said Omari's story \"reinforces the need for eradication of pit toilets and the provision of safe and adequate sanitation\". Earlier this year in the rural Eastern Cape province, a five-year-old girl drowned in a pit latrine. Lumka Mkhethwa went missing without a trace from Luna Primary School in March. A pack of sniffer dogs found her body at the bottom of a dark, faeces-filled toilet. After Lumka's death, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for pit latrines to be eradicated from South African school by the end of 2018.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1508, "answer_start": 931, "text": "Pit latrines, sometimes called long-drop toilets, are a type of toilet that collects faeces in a hole in the ground. They are classed as basic sanitation. Yet an estimated 27% of South Africans do not have access to even basic sanitation, according to the charity Water Aid. That is slightly lower than the global average of one third. The UN defines basic sanitation as: - a flush or pour-flush toilet linked to a piped sewer system - pit latrines with a slab, septic tank or ventilation - a composting toilet. About one in five South African schools have pit latrine toilets." } ], "id": "889_0", "question": "What are pit latrines?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is seeking to get the criminal case against him thrown out of court. On Friday, his lawyers filed a defence motion citing dozens of \"warm\" emails they say Mr Weinstein received from one of his accusers after an alleged rape. His team argue prosecutors should have shared the evidence with the Grand Jury that indicted him. Mr Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to six charges involving three different women. The accuser in question has retained her anonymity. Mr Weinstein's lawyers say the case should be dismissed in its pre-trial stage, saying there had been a series of failings. Other objections included a lack of details on the timeline of an alleged assault in 2004, and the lack of advance warning from the District Attorney's office about the presentation of more serious charges. In their motion, they included \"dozens of emails written by the anonymous accuser, who sent extensive warm, complimentary and solicitous messages to Mr Weinstein immediately following the now claimed event and over the next four-year period. \"These communications irrefutably reflect the true nature of this consensual intimate friendship, which never at any time included a forcible rape.\" The New York District Attorney's Office has not yet commented. The 159-page motion presents details from more than 400 emails between Mr Weinstein and the accuser, sent between April 2013 and February 2017, the lawyers say. The alleged rape took place on 18 March 2013. The woman alleges Mr Weinstein trapped her in a New York City hotel room and forced himself on her. His defence says the emails continued after this date. \"I hope to see you sooner rather than later,\" she wrote on 11 April 2013, followed by \"I appreciate all you do for me\", sent the next day. \"I love you, always do,\" she wrote on February 8, 2017. \"But I hate feeling like a booty call. :)\" A footnote in the lawyers' document reads: \"This [motion] is not to ignore that rape can occur in relationships such as an abusive marriage or where the parties have been dating each other for a time.\" The woman has not released a statement. After Mr Weinstein was fired by his company last year, the emails were turned over to his legal team, according to the LA Times. The judge dealing with his separate bankruptcy case issued an order saying the private messages could not be released, because the accuser could lose her right to anonymity. On Thursday, that same judge conceded the correspondence could be used in Mr Weinstein's motion against the criminal case, as long as the woman's identity was protected. In 2017, dozens of women - including many famous actresses - came forward with allegations, ranging from rape to sexual harassment. They sparked a solidarity movement known as #MeToo. The allegations of three of the women underpin the criminal case: former actress Lucia Evans, former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and the anonymous accuser. One of the charges against him - predatory sexual assault - carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Mr Weinstein has consistently denied any non-consensual sex. He is currently on a $1m (PS770,000) bail bond and wears an electronic tag. He also faces a raft of civil lawsuits. In April, actress Ashley Judd sued him, claiming he damaged her career after she rejected his sexual advances. Mr Weinstein has denied the allegations. London's Metropolitan Police have also been investigating claims against him, some of which date back to the 1980s. Unlike in the US, there is no statute of limitation on sexual abuse cases in the UK, meaning incidents from decades ago could still go to court.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3635, "answer_start": 2595, "text": "In 2017, dozens of women - including many famous actresses - came forward with allegations, ranging from rape to sexual harassment. They sparked a solidarity movement known as #MeToo. The allegations of three of the women underpin the criminal case: former actress Lucia Evans, former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and the anonymous accuser. One of the charges against him - predatory sexual assault - carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Mr Weinstein has consistently denied any non-consensual sex. He is currently on a $1m (PS770,000) bail bond and wears an electronic tag. He also faces a raft of civil lawsuits. In April, actress Ashley Judd sued him, claiming he damaged her career after she rejected his sexual advances. Mr Weinstein has denied the allegations. London's Metropolitan Police have also been investigating claims against him, some of which date back to the 1980s. Unlike in the US, there is no statute of limitation on sexual abuse cases in the UK, meaning incidents from decades ago could still go to court." } ], "id": "890_0", "question": "What are the cases against him?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Argentine leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says she is convinced the death of top Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman was not suicide. Mr Nisman, 51, was found shot dead in his apartment on Sunday. The prosecutor probing his death said it appeared to be suicide. But in a letter published on Thursday, Ms Fernandez cast doubt on that theory. Mr Nisman had been investigating the 1994 deadly bombing of a Jewish centre. Eighty-five people died in the bombing in Buenos Aires. It was Argentina's worst terrorist attack. Days prior to his death, Mr Nisman had accused Ms Fernandez and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman of involvement in a plot to cover up Iran's alleged role in the 1994 bombing on the seven-storey Amia community centre. He died just hours before he was due to give details of his allegations to a congressional committee. Mr Nisman based his allegations on intercepted conversations which seem to suggest Argentine intelligence officers tried to whitewash the Iranian suspects in the 1994 bombing. In a 300-page report, he alleged that after years of tension caused by the 1994 bombing, the government of Ms Fernandez was keen to improve ties with Iran in order to trade Argentine grain for badly needed oil. Government spokesman Anibal Fernandez dismissed the allegations on Wednesday as \"absolutely feeble\". In a letter published on her Twitter account [in Spanish], President Kirchner said Mr Nisman had been provided with \"false information\" and that the spies he quoted were not really spies at all but had misled him deliberately. She also referred to his death as \"the suicide (I'm convinced) was no suicide\". While President Fernandez de Kirchner's letter suggesting that Alberto Nisman was, after all, probably murdered is important, she is only falling in line with overwhelming public opinion. The bottom line is that this beleaguered government has been further weakened by Mr Nisman's death and few people have faith in the state institutions to solve the crime. Nor do there appear to be significant breakthroughs in the investigation into the 1994 bombing of the Amia cultural centre in Buenos Aires in which 85 people died. Mr Nisman had again pointed the finger at Iran (and Hezbollah) and had accused Ms Fernandez's administration of trying to cover up Iran's alleged involvement in exchange for lucrative oil deals. While not volatile, the situation in Argentina is tense. The government has already rejected Mr Nisman's allegations but it will have to show it is taking the investigation into his death seriously and without prejudice. Investigating prosecutor Viviana Fein had said on Monday that there had been \"no intervention\" from others in Mr Nisman's death. She said the bullet found lodged in his head had been fired at close range from the gun which had been found lying next to Mr Nisman's body. Ms Fein added that the apartment's door had been locked from the inside and that the key was in the lock. She said there was no evidence of any outside \"intervention\", although she did not rule out the possibility that Mr Nisman had been \"induced\" to kill himself. Relatives and friends of Mr Nisman, who had spoken to him in the days prior to his death, said he appeared confident and in good spirits, although he did mention receiving threats. Media speculation about whether Mr Nisman's death was a suicide has been mounting as new statements and evidence emerge. On Tuesday, it was revealed that a test failed to detect any gunshot residue on Mr Nisman's hands. While Ms Fein said that the negative result could be due to the small calibre of the gun, it reignited suspicion that Mr Nisman did not pull the trigger. Remarks made by the locksmith who was called to gain access to Mr Nisman's flat further fuelled speculation. The man, who only gave his name as Walter, described how it had taken him only two minutes to get in. He said that the service door \"was closed but not locked\" and that it had been easy to \"simply push the key\" which was on the inside with the help of a wire. \"If someone entered or not, I don't know,\" he added. Apart from the locked main door and the service door, investigators have found a third way into the apartment. They said a narrow corridor housing air conditioning equipment linked Mr Nisman's flat to that of a neighbour. Recent footprints and fingerprints found inside the corridor are currently being tested.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3291, "answer_start": 2576, "text": "Investigating prosecutor Viviana Fein had said on Monday that there had been \"no intervention\" from others in Mr Nisman's death. She said the bullet found lodged in his head had been fired at close range from the gun which had been found lying next to Mr Nisman's body. Ms Fein added that the apartment's door had been locked from the inside and that the key was in the lock. She said there was no evidence of any outside \"intervention\", although she did not rule out the possibility that Mr Nisman had been \"induced\" to kill himself. Relatives and friends of Mr Nisman, who had spoken to him in the days prior to his death, said he appeared confident and in good spirits, although he did mention receiving threats." } ], "id": "891_0", "question": "Induced?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Israeli aircraft have struck Syrian army targets after rockets were fired at the occupied Golan Heights, the Israeli military says. Three Syrian soldiers were killed in the overnight strike, Syrian state media said on Sunday. Israel seized the Golan from Syria in 1967 and later in effect annexed it, in a move not recognised internationally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel \"would not tolerate\" any firing into its territory. In a tweet, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) gave details of the latest strike - which targeted Syrian positions in the Mount Hermon area, which borders the Golan Heights. A spokeswoman for the Israeli military said it was unclear who had fired the rockets but added that the Syrian army was responsible for attacks launched from the territory it controls. On Monday, IDF said it had attacked a Syrian anti-aircraft system that fired on one of its warplanes. Syrian state media said one soldier had been killed in that incident. The region is located about 60km (40 miles) south-west of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and covers about 1,000 sq km (400 sq miles). Israel seized most of the Golan from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East war, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake the region during the 1973 war. The two countries agreed a disengagement plan the following year that involved the creation of a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone patrolled by a United Nations observer force. But they remained technically in a state of war. In 1981, Israel's parliament passed legislation applying Israeli \"law, jurisdiction, and administration\" to the Golan. But the international community did not recognise the move and maintained that the Golan was occupied Syrian territory. UN Security Council Resolution 497 declared the Israeli decision \"null and void and without international legal effect\". Three years ago, under then-President Barack Obama, the US voted in favour of a Security Council statement expressing deep concern that Mr Netanyahu had declared Israel would never relinquish the Golan. In March, President Donald Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the area, overturning decades of US policy. In response, Syria has vowed to recover the area \"through all available means\". Syria has always insisted that it will not agree a peace deal with Israel unless it withdraws from the whole of the Golan. The last US-brokered direct peace talks broke down in 2000, while Turkey mediated in indirect talks in 2008. There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs, who did not flee when the Golan was captured.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2820, "answer_start": 973, "text": "The region is located about 60km (40 miles) south-west of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and covers about 1,000 sq km (400 sq miles). Israel seized most of the Golan from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East war, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake the region during the 1973 war. The two countries agreed a disengagement plan the following year that involved the creation of a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone patrolled by a United Nations observer force. But they remained technically in a state of war. In 1981, Israel's parliament passed legislation applying Israeli \"law, jurisdiction, and administration\" to the Golan. But the international community did not recognise the move and maintained that the Golan was occupied Syrian territory. UN Security Council Resolution 497 declared the Israeli decision \"null and void and without international legal effect\". Three years ago, under then-President Barack Obama, the US voted in favour of a Security Council statement expressing deep concern that Mr Netanyahu had declared Israel would never relinquish the Golan. In March, President Donald Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the area, overturning decades of US policy. In response, Syria has vowed to recover the area \"through all available means\". Syria has always insisted that it will not agree a peace deal with Israel unless it withdraws from the whole of the Golan. The last US-brokered direct peace talks broke down in 2000, while Turkey mediated in indirect talks in 2008. There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs, who did not flee when the Golan was captured." } ], "id": "892_0", "question": "What are the Golan Heights?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold amid continued uncertainty over Brexit. All nine members of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to keep rates at 0.75%, where they have been since August last year. In the meeting's minutes, the MPC said the economic outlook would continue to depend \"significantly on the nature and timing of EU withdrawal\". The MPC's response in terms of interest rates could be \"in either direction\". In setting interest rates the Bank is aiming to keep inflation within 1% either side of its target of 2% \"in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment\". The inflation rate in February was 1.9% and is expected to remain \"close to the 2% target over coming months\". In the minutes of its latest meeting, the Bank said that predictions contained in its February inflation report \"appear on track\". The projections were conditional on a \"smooth adjustment to the average of a range of possible outcomes for the UK's eventual trading relationship with the EU\". It added that the economic outlook would continue to \"depend significantly\" on the nature and timing of EU withdrawal. In particular it highlighted the \"new trading arrangements between the EU and the UK; whether the transition to them is abrupt or smooth; and how households, businesses and financial markets respond\". \"The appropriate path of monetary policy will depend on the balance of these effects on demand, supply and the exchange rate. The monetary policy response to Brexit, whatever form it takes, will not be automatic and could be in either direction.\" Mike Jakeman, senior economist at PwC, said the most notable aspect of the statement was how little had changed over the past month. \"The global economy is slowing, the UK economy is still growing modestly, held up by consumer spending and dragged down by business investment; employment remains very strong and inflation around the Bank's 2% target. \"As there are still a number of potential outcomes to the Brexit process, the Bank is keeping all options on the table, pledging that its next move could be in either direction.\" The Bank found that the \"cumulative effect of Brexit uncertainties\" had hit investment by companies. Its data suggested that the level of \"nominal investment\" may be between 6-14% lower than would have been the case in the absence of Brexit uncertainties, with larger items such as machinery, equipment and buildings singled out in particular. The Bank warned that a short delay to Brexit could prompt firms to cut investment even more. A short delay may see a \"larger immediate reduction\", while firms hold off and wait for a deal to be reached. If the delay carried on for longer, it might have less of an effect on investment as businesses \"judge it too costly to wait for any resolution to become apparent\", according to the Bank. There was also further evidence that companies were continuing to stockpile, the Bank said, though the signs were that imports had risen strongly recently, so a lot of the goods were coming from overseas. According to the findings of a special survey carried out by the Bank's agents, about 80% of firms thought they were ready for a no-deal, no-transition Brexit scenario, against about 50% in January. However, \"companies had continued to report significantly weaker expectations of output, employment and investment in the event of a no-deal, no transition Brexit\". PwC's Mike Jakeman said given the \"high anxiety\" about the UK's future relationship with the EU, it was \"inconceivable\" the Bank would have raised rates this month. \"However, its base assumption remains that a disorderly Brexit will be avoided and that in this outcome the economy will require a gradual tightening of monetary policy as slack gradually disappears. \"We concur and expect the Bank to raise interest rates once in the second half of the year, if a no-deal Brexit is avoided.\" Andrew Wishart, UK economist at Capital Economics, said there were three \"distinct paths\" interest rates could take depending on what happens with Brexit. If Parliament passes Mrs May's withdrawal deal next week, the \"elimination of uncertainty would support a strengthening in the economy\". In that case, Capital Economics thinks the MPC could raise rates four times by the end of 2020, with the first increase coming in August of this year. If there was a long delay to Brexit of a year or more, Mr Wishart said the MPC might raise rates in the summer, However, if there was a no-deal Brexit next week, Capital thinks the MPC could cut rates to 0.25% at its next scheduled meeting in May, or even earlier at an emergency meeting.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2112, "answer_start": 452, "text": "In setting interest rates the Bank is aiming to keep inflation within 1% either side of its target of 2% \"in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment\". The inflation rate in February was 1.9% and is expected to remain \"close to the 2% target over coming months\". In the minutes of its latest meeting, the Bank said that predictions contained in its February inflation report \"appear on track\". The projections were conditional on a \"smooth adjustment to the average of a range of possible outcomes for the UK's eventual trading relationship with the EU\". It added that the economic outlook would continue to \"depend significantly\" on the nature and timing of EU withdrawal. In particular it highlighted the \"new trading arrangements between the EU and the UK; whether the transition to them is abrupt or smooth; and how households, businesses and financial markets respond\". \"The appropriate path of monetary policy will depend on the balance of these effects on demand, supply and the exchange rate. The monetary policy response to Brexit, whatever form it takes, will not be automatic and could be in either direction.\" Mike Jakeman, senior economist at PwC, said the most notable aspect of the statement was how little had changed over the past month. \"The global economy is slowing, the UK economy is still growing modestly, held up by consumer spending and dragged down by business investment; employment remains very strong and inflation around the Bank's 2% target. \"As there are still a number of potential outcomes to the Brexit process, the Bank is keeping all options on the table, pledging that its next move could be in either direction.\"" } ], "id": "893_0", "question": "What did the Bank's policymakers say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "\"That's made my life.\" That was easily the most enthusiastic reaction when I took to the streets of Aberdeen to find out how people felt about the UK voting to leave the EU. Perhaps it was the rush to get to work or university, perhaps it was shock at the result, perhaps it was just the thick pea soup fog, but many people were reluctant to speak. I tried not to take it personally. While the UK voted to leave, Aberdeen voters were 61.1% in favour of remaining. Some people did not even know the overall result when I approached them. One young lady, touching my arm apologetically, said as she rushed off: \"I really don't have anything to say.\" BBC Scotland took to the streets of towns and cities across the country to find out what people feel about the decision to leave the EU. Then I spotted a lollipop man. He can't avoid me, I thought. \"I don't know the result,\" he said when I asked what he thought of the outcome. \"You can't do anything about it now,\" he added, when I told him. A young man took his headphones out when I approached him. \"I can speak to you if you walk with me,\" he said. Walking at a brisk pace, the medical student said: \"I have mixed feelings. \"Personally I am quite left wing and believe anything more localised is good. But I think it's quite a xenophobic vote. \"I was a little surprised at the result. \"What will Scotland do now? It's anyone's guess.\" Retired architect William Mitchell, 73, said: \"I am not surprised. I wanted to come out. \"Things will get bad and then improve. I expect things to dip and then we will get a grip.\" Walking dogs was retired 68-year-old carer Percy Humphrey. He didn't know the result yet. As I patted one of the dogs, I told him. \"That's made my life\", he said, his eyes lighting up. \"I thought it was odds on we would not leave because of all the scaremongering. \"It will maybe help sort things out, and we can use any extra money towards all the cutbacks. \"I was hoping it would be a leave vote, but feared it would be like watching Andy Murray getting beat in another final.\" He added: \"There's too much going on for another independence referendum.\" I had spoken to them before it emerged David Cameron announced he would step down as prime minister by October. So I left breaking that news to others on the streets of Aberdeen to someone else.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 784, "answer_start": 648, "text": "BBC Scotland took to the streets of towns and cities across the country to find out what people feel about the decision to leave the EU." } ], "id": "894_0", "question": "How has Scotland reacted to the Brexit vote?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "For a country running out of foreign reserves, facing a yawning current account deficit and fighting to secure its financial future, Pakistan is putting on quite a show for Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And it's easy to see why: Prime Minister Imran Khan needs money, and he needs it fast. MBS, as he's known, has come to town promising billions. But money is just one dimension of a relationship that goes much deeper. The two countries have a nexus of interests. Pakistan was meant to be the first stop on an Asian tour taking in five countries but the crown prince's trips to Indonesia and Malaysia have been postponed. He is still scheduled to visit China and India in what is being seen as a charm offensive by the controversial prince. The last time a Saudi royal visit was marked with this much fanfare was in 2006, when then Saudi ruler King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz toured the nuclear-armed nation. And security is being taken seriously - with Imran Khan making a point of saying that he is personally taking care of the arrangements. The 33-year-old Saudi's tour comes amid heightened tensions in the region, after India blamed Pakistan for the deadliest attack on its security forces in Kashmir in decades. JF-17 Thunder fighter jets escorted MBS's fleet on Sunday evening as it entered Pakistani airspace - with all other flights grounded. The crown prince was greeted by Mr Khan and Pakistan's powerful army chief on a red carpet at a military airport and given a 21-gun salute. Imran Khan then personally drove Mohammed bin Salman to the official residence of the prime minister, where Mr Khan doesn't actually stay but where MBS will for his two-day visit, in a first for a state guest. Hundreds of five-star rooms in Islamabad are believed have been booked out for the 1,000-strong delegation. There are even reports that thousands of pigeons have been caught for a welcome ceremony. Pakistan's higher civilian honour will be conferred on the prince, who Mr Khan has praised for his \"reformist ideas\". The central bank has only $8bn (PS6.2bn) left in foreign reserves and faces a balance of payments crisis. Since he was sworn in last August, former star cricketer Imran Khan has been aggressively pursuing help from friendly countries in order to reduce the size of the bailout package that Pakistan is likely to need from the International Monetary Fund, under very strict conditions. The country is seeking its 13th bailout since the late 1980s and Saudi Arabia has already provided a $6bn loan. The visit of MBS comes soon after Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was in town and the United Arab Emirates has pledged to provide $6bn to support Pakistan's battered economy. But Saudi Arabia is taking things up a notch - with its media reporting provisional agreements worth $20bn are being signed. The crown jewel is a new $10bn oil refinery in southern port city of Gwadar. Gwadar is the nerve centre of China's $60bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Chinese money is much valued by Pakistan's government but analysts say it comes with strings attached - Chinese workers normally build Chinese projects. There are also concerns about Beijing having too much influence. Funds from the Gulf countries are hence very welcome. While it is easy to see Pakistan as a country which is benefiting from the largesse of its allies at the cost of its sovereignty, the story is not so simple. Saudi Arabia needs Pakistan too. The crown prince's tour comes at a peculiar time for the kingdom, which is currently facing a global reputational crisis of its own due to the humanitarian catastrophe of its war in Yemen and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate. Against this backdrop, the current tour can be seen as a charm offensive by MBS, who is seeking to bolster relationships with dependable allies while doling out cash. And it's important not to forget that Pakistan is very important to the Saudis. The two countries have a military relationship which goes back decades. When Islam's holiest site in Mecca was attacked by militants four decades ago, it was Pakistani troops who were deployed to eliminate them. \"There has always been the assumption that Pakistan would be able to provide manpower if Saudi Arabia faced a major security crisis or a major attack,\" says Shashank Joshi, a South Asia expert and defence editor of The Economist magazine. \"Saudi Arabia, like some of the other gulf countries, has lots of cash but not necessarily a particularly strong army. Pakistan has not very much cash but a very strong and powerful army.\" He adds that it has long been suspected - but never proven - that the two sides have a longstanding nuclear relationship that Saudi Arabia could draw upon if it one day needed access to the technology - for example if regional rival Iran became a nuclear-armed power. The Saudis have a strong religious influence in mostly Sunni Muslim Pakistan and after the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s, they were able to set up a large network of religious seminaries, in part to counter Iran's influence. In fact, a week before MBS's visit to Pakistan, the main avenues of Islamabad were dotted with posters and banners commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. Since then, those have been replaced with pictures of MBS. The presence of Iran as Pakistan's next door neighbour is another reason why the Saudis want to keep up the relationship. \"Saudi Arabia would like to ensure Pakistan remains closer to Riyadh than it does to Tehran,\" says Mr Joshi. It's true that Pakistan's decision not to heed Saudi Arabia's call to join its war in Yemen four years ago damaged the relationship. But this visit - coming amid a generational shift in the Saudi leadership - \"represents a turning of the page\", says Pakistani newspaper columnist Mosharraf Zaidi. What makes the timing of this tour even more significant is that it comes at a time when geopolitics in the region are shifting. Unprecedented talks are taking place to bring an end to the war in Afghanistan - where Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India and the US all have a stake. The high-level talks have been held in Qatar - the Gulf country with which Saudi Arabia has an ongoing rift - and Saudi officials will want to find out exactly what has been going on from Pakistan's army chiefs, says Shashank Joshi. \"Saudi Arabia will be keen that as the peace process continues that it is factions [of the Taliban that they are close to] who are empowered, rather than those who are close to Iran.\" Additional reporting by the BBC's Kevin Ponniah", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2051, "answer_start": 778, "text": "The last time a Saudi royal visit was marked with this much fanfare was in 2006, when then Saudi ruler King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz toured the nuclear-armed nation. And security is being taken seriously - with Imran Khan making a point of saying that he is personally taking care of the arrangements. The 33-year-old Saudi's tour comes amid heightened tensions in the region, after India blamed Pakistan for the deadliest attack on its security forces in Kashmir in decades. JF-17 Thunder fighter jets escorted MBS's fleet on Sunday evening as it entered Pakistani airspace - with all other flights grounded. The crown prince was greeted by Mr Khan and Pakistan's powerful army chief on a red carpet at a military airport and given a 21-gun salute. Imran Khan then personally drove Mohammed bin Salman to the official residence of the prime minister, where Mr Khan doesn't actually stay but where MBS will for his two-day visit, in a first for a state guest. Hundreds of five-star rooms in Islamabad are believed have been booked out for the 1,000-strong delegation. There are even reports that thousands of pigeons have been caught for a welcome ceremony. Pakistan's higher civilian honour will be conferred on the prince, who Mr Khan has praised for his \"reformist ideas\"." } ], "id": "895_0", "question": "How lavish is the visit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3297, "answer_start": 2052, "text": "The central bank has only $8bn (PS6.2bn) left in foreign reserves and faces a balance of payments crisis. Since he was sworn in last August, former star cricketer Imran Khan has been aggressively pursuing help from friendly countries in order to reduce the size of the bailout package that Pakistan is likely to need from the International Monetary Fund, under very strict conditions. The country is seeking its 13th bailout since the late 1980s and Saudi Arabia has already provided a $6bn loan. The visit of MBS comes soon after Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was in town and the United Arab Emirates has pledged to provide $6bn to support Pakistan's battered economy. But Saudi Arabia is taking things up a notch - with its media reporting provisional agreements worth $20bn are being signed. The crown jewel is a new $10bn oil refinery in southern port city of Gwadar. Gwadar is the nerve centre of China's $60bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Chinese money is much valued by Pakistan's government but analysts say it comes with strings attached - Chinese workers normally build Chinese projects. There are also concerns about Beijing having too much influence. Funds from the Gulf countries are hence very welcome." } ], "id": "895_1", "question": "Why is Pakistan desperate for cash?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5894, "answer_start": 3298, "text": "While it is easy to see Pakistan as a country which is benefiting from the largesse of its allies at the cost of its sovereignty, the story is not so simple. Saudi Arabia needs Pakistan too. The crown prince's tour comes at a peculiar time for the kingdom, which is currently facing a global reputational crisis of its own due to the humanitarian catastrophe of its war in Yemen and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate. Against this backdrop, the current tour can be seen as a charm offensive by MBS, who is seeking to bolster relationships with dependable allies while doling out cash. And it's important not to forget that Pakistan is very important to the Saudis. The two countries have a military relationship which goes back decades. When Islam's holiest site in Mecca was attacked by militants four decades ago, it was Pakistani troops who were deployed to eliminate them. \"There has always been the assumption that Pakistan would be able to provide manpower if Saudi Arabia faced a major security crisis or a major attack,\" says Shashank Joshi, a South Asia expert and defence editor of The Economist magazine. \"Saudi Arabia, like some of the other gulf countries, has lots of cash but not necessarily a particularly strong army. Pakistan has not very much cash but a very strong and powerful army.\" He adds that it has long been suspected - but never proven - that the two sides have a longstanding nuclear relationship that Saudi Arabia could draw upon if it one day needed access to the technology - for example if regional rival Iran became a nuclear-armed power. The Saudis have a strong religious influence in mostly Sunni Muslim Pakistan and after the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s, they were able to set up a large network of religious seminaries, in part to counter Iran's influence. In fact, a week before MBS's visit to Pakistan, the main avenues of Islamabad were dotted with posters and banners commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. Since then, those have been replaced with pictures of MBS. The presence of Iran as Pakistan's next door neighbour is another reason why the Saudis want to keep up the relationship. \"Saudi Arabia would like to ensure Pakistan remains closer to Riyadh than it does to Tehran,\" says Mr Joshi. It's true that Pakistan's decision not to heed Saudi Arabia's call to join its war in Yemen four years ago damaged the relationship. But this visit - coming amid a generational shift in the Saudi leadership - \"represents a turning of the page\", says Pakistani newspaper columnist Mosharraf Zaidi." } ], "id": "895_2", "question": "What's in it for the Saudis?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Diamond-encrusted swords and intricately designed brooches stolen from a former royal palace in Germany may never be seen again, experts warn. The items, part of a collection created in 1723 by Saxony's ruler, Augustus the Strong, are so recognisable that thieves are likely to break them up. Artworks taken from the Dresden Green Vault are described as \"priceless\". The head of Dresden state museums, Marion Ackermann, said destroying the artworks would be a \"terrible idea\". \"We are talking here about items of inestimable art-historical and cultural-historical value,\" she said. \"We cannot put an exact value on them because they are priceless.\" Police have released a series of photos of the stolen jewels and appealed for witnesses. The thieves broke into the vault, known in German as Dresden's Grunes Gewolbe, at dawn on Monday after a fire at the building's power distributor appears to have turned off the alarm system. An inspection of the museum afterwards revealed that a number of items within the three diamond jewellery sets reported stolen were still in place. Seven other sets that make up the collection were left untouched. Thieves had managed to gain access to a display case that contained about 100 objects, police said. Ms Ackermann told reporters she was \"shocked by the brutality of the break-in\", adding that criminals would have escaped with more jewellery had objects not been so well secured within their cases. Saxony's art minister, Eva Maria, said the stolen items were \"to a certain extent the crown jewels of the Saxon kings\" and that \"they belong to Saxony\". Art Recovery International, which describes itself as \"a behind the scenes force\" in the world of art, said museums like the Green Vault were \"under siege by barbarian criminal gangs who melt down gold and carve out precious stones with no regard to the importance of cultural heritage\". The founder of the company, Christopher Marinello, told the BBC that the robbery in Dresden was \"a theft of epic proportions\". Popular German daily Bild said the thieves had grabbed jewels worth EUR1bn (PS855m). \"This is a major collection of jewels and intact designs containing gold, diamonds, precious gems and rubies,\" Mr Marinello said. \"I knew exactly what was going to happen once I heard what was taken - that we were not going to see these items remain intact.\" Details of the robbery are still under investigation and the full value of the missing items has not yet been reported. The thieves - still on the run - removed part of an iron grille on a ground-floor window, then smashed the glass to gain access to the building. At about 05:00 (04:00 GMT) on Monday, firefighters were called to tackle a blaze in a nearby electricity junction box. Police believe the fire disabled the museum's alarm system. It put out some of the street lights. Police are examining CCTV footage which shows two suspects in the dark. But more people may have been involved in the robbery. A car found burning in Dresden early on Monday may have been the getaway vehicle used by the burglars, police say. The museum had guards on duty at night, Ms Ackermann said. The collection is housed in eight ornate rooms in the Residenzschloss - a former royal palace. Three rooms were destroyed by Allied bombing in World War Two, but after the war the museum was restored to its previous glory. It is called the Green Vault because some rooms were decorated with malachite-green paint. The most valuable items are in the palace's historic section on the ground floor. There are about 3,000 items of jewellery and other treasures decorated with gold, silver, ivory and pearl. They include a figure of a moor studded with emeralds and a 648-carat sapphire - a royal gift from Russia's Tsar Peter the Great. One of the most valuable jewels is a 41-carat green diamond currently on show in New York. The collection was founded by Augustus the Strong. He was Elector of Saxony - a German prince entitled to take part in the election of the emperor - and later king of Poland.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3135, "answer_start": 2473, "text": "The thieves - still on the run - removed part of an iron grille on a ground-floor window, then smashed the glass to gain access to the building. At about 05:00 (04:00 GMT) on Monday, firefighters were called to tackle a blaze in a nearby electricity junction box. Police believe the fire disabled the museum's alarm system. It put out some of the street lights. Police are examining CCTV footage which shows two suspects in the dark. But more people may have been involved in the robbery. A car found burning in Dresden early on Monday may have been the getaway vehicle used by the burglars, police say. The museum had guards on duty at night, Ms Ackermann said." } ], "id": "896_0", "question": "How did the thieves get in?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been seen weeping at a memorial for the army chief of staff who was shot dead in an alleged coup attempt on Saturday. Gen Seare Mekonnen was reportedly assassinated by his bodyguard as part of a plot to seize power in the northern region of Amhara. Officials say the bodyguard is being treated for his injuries, contradicting an earlier claim that he was dead. The alleged ringleader of the coup was shot dead on Monday, police said. Brig Gen Asaminew Tsige was reportedly killed as he tried to escape from his hideout in Amhara's capital, Bahir Dar. The internet has been shut across Ethiopia, after a brief resumption in service that followed an unexplained blackout lasting more than a week. Tuesday's memorial service took place at a large venue in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, amid tight security. Mourners paid their respects before flag-draped coffins bearing the bodies of Gen Seare and Gen Gezai Abera, who was assassinated with him. Mr Abiy was filmed wiping away his tears while soldiers eulogised the dead men. In a statement on state media on Monday evening, Ethiopian federal police apologised for having earlier said that the alleged assassin, Gen Seare's bodyguard, had killed himself. The latest statement from the police said the bodyguard, who has not been named, was being treated for gunshot wounds in hospital. It is not clear if the injuries were self-inflicted. Kalkidan Yibeltal, BBC Amharic, Addis Ababa This has been a sombre ceremony full of religious and military symbolism. Priests from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church led the prayers, chanting hymns for the dead. The top brass of Ethiopia's military would later line up, one by one, as they saluted in front of the caskets of the killed generals. Prime Minister Abiy wept throughout the ceremony, his head in his hands. As one general broke down while paying his tributes, Mr Abiy reached out to embrace President Sahle-Work Zewde. Both were in tears. There were tributes from Gen Seare's son and his colleagues, who all described him as a loyal servant. Hundreds of people turned up from early morning. The majority were locked out with no space to accommodate them in the hall. After the memorial, Gen Seare's coffin, draped in the Ethiopian flag, was flown to his birthplace in the northern region of Tigray for burial. The attack on Gen Seare and Gen Gezai on Saturday came hours after gunmen in Bahir Dar killed the governor of Amhara, Ambachew Mekonnen, along with two senior officials. The government described the events as a co-ordinated attempt to seize power in the northern region. State officials told local television on Monday that Brig Gen Asaminew had been present at the killing of the governor. Mr Abiy has urged Ethiopians to unite against \"evil\" forces set on dividing the country. The weekend's assassinations represent the biggest challenge yet to his year-old government, which has undertaken sweeping reforms to the security apparatus. The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza says there is clearly still significant opposition within the military to the prime minister's style of leadership. The US, a key ally, has condemned the unrest, saying it was probably linked to \"vestiges of the old regime\" unhappy with Mr Abiy's reforms. While details are still unclear, news of Gen Asaminew's alleged bid for power was not a surprise for some Ethiopians. He was a member of the Amhara, the country's second largest ethic group. He had a reputation for hard-line ethnic nationalism and had previously called for the Amhara people to have greater autonomy. This month, in a video on social media, he openly advised the Amhara to arm themselves. He had been serving as Amhara's regional security chief and was said to have a significant following among young people. He was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure. The general had been in custody for nine years for allegedly plotting a coup. Gen Asaminew also had a bad relationship with the regional government of neighbouring Tigray province. The government claimed that Gen Seare and Gen Abera had been killed because they came from the minority Tigray ethnic group. Since his election last year, he has moved to end repression by releasing political prisoners, removing bans on opposition political parties and overseeing the prosecution of officials accused of human rights abuses. He has also restored diplomatic relations with Ethiopia's long-time adversary, Eritrea. But his reforms have taken on powerful interest groups in the military and the ruling coalition. Mr Abiy survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago on Sunday, which killed two people and left more than 100 injured. Africa's oldest independent country, Ethiopia is also the continent's second most populous after Nigeria, with 102.5 million inhabitants from more than 80 different ethnic groups. A transfer hub for long-haul air travel, it has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but a vast number of young Ethiopians are without work.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4280, "answer_start": 3270, "text": "While details are still unclear, news of Gen Asaminew's alleged bid for power was not a surprise for some Ethiopians. He was a member of the Amhara, the country's second largest ethic group. He had a reputation for hard-line ethnic nationalism and had previously called for the Amhara people to have greater autonomy. This month, in a video on social media, he openly advised the Amhara to arm themselves. He had been serving as Amhara's regional security chief and was said to have a significant following among young people. He was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure. The general had been in custody for nine years for allegedly plotting a coup. Gen Asaminew also had a bad relationship with the regional government of neighbouring Tigray province. The government claimed that Gen Seare and Gen Abera had been killed because they came from the minority Tigray ethnic group." } ], "id": "897_0", "question": "Why did the alleged coup take place?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5140, "answer_start": 4281, "text": "Since his election last year, he has moved to end repression by releasing political prisoners, removing bans on opposition political parties and overseeing the prosecution of officials accused of human rights abuses. He has also restored diplomatic relations with Ethiopia's long-time adversary, Eritrea. But his reforms have taken on powerful interest groups in the military and the ruling coalition. Mr Abiy survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago on Sunday, which killed two people and left more than 100 injured. Africa's oldest independent country, Ethiopia is also the continent's second most populous after Nigeria, with 102.5 million inhabitants from more than 80 different ethnic groups. A transfer hub for long-haul air travel, it has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but a vast number of young Ethiopians are without work." } ], "id": "897_1", "question": "What has been Mr Abiy's record in office?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Chinese film star Fan Bingbing has been ranked last in a report judging A-list celebrities on how \"socially responsible\" they are, fuelling further speculation about the whereabouts of the actress, who has not been seen in public for more than two months. The 2017-2018 China Film and Television Star Social Responsibility Report, carried widely by state media outlets, ranks Chinese celebrities according to three criteria: professional work, charitable actions and personal integrity. It praises celebrities who have become \"relatively strong role models\", but also highlights cases where it says they have had a \"negative\" social impact. But what is most notable is its 0% rating for Fan Bingbing, one of China's biggest stars, who hasn't been seen in public since 1 July when she visited a children's hospital. The report was authored by academics at Beijing Normal University. She is known internationally as a singer and model, as well as for her appearance in the X-Men film franchise. Her name has been linked to a government probe involving celebrities using \"yin-yang contracts\" - a practice where one contract sets out an actor's real earnings, and another details a lower figure, with the latter submitted to the tax authorities. Although Fan Bingbing's studio denies any wrongdoing, online users are speculating that the reason she scored 0% is a result of the widely-circulated allegations, which state media have said have had a negative impact on society. There is no word on what has happened to Fan. However there is speculation she has been arrested. Most recently, state-run Chinese publication Securities Daily published a report which said she had been placed \"under control, and would \"accept the legal decision\". But the story was pulled down a few hours later. The authors said they studied the behaviour of 100 Chinese singers, actors, and public figures - based in China and abroad - to assess the extent of their social responsibility. They did not specify exactly how they arrived at the results in the test, but said that their findings were based on \"research and web-scraping\". Only nine celebrities were deemed to be socially responsible enough, however, with a pass requiring a score of more than 60%.The report stressed that celebrities had to do more to promote \"positive energy\" and hinted that they needed to be more aware of behaviour and actions that might have a \"negative social impact\". \"We wanted to have a more thorough evaluation of celebrities,\" Zhang Hongzhong, who led the project, told English-language news website Sixth Tone. He said that many celebrities were in danger of being simply branded \"little fresh meats\" - an internet buzzword used to describe good looking young men - and that their activism and philanthropy work was often overlooked. Top of the list is actor Xu Zheng (78%), who appeared in the highly acclaimed film Dying to Survive. The film was based on a true story about a Chinese man smuggling cheap Indian drugs into the mainland to help cancer sufferers. Two and three in the list are members of the hugely popular boy band TFBoys, in recognition of their philanthropic work. Another member comes fifth. Actor Yang Yang (61.%), who ranks ninth, is highlighted because he set up a charity to help educate underprivileged children in remote mountainous regions. State media are highlighting the report as a significant document, and outlets are praising the higher-ranked celebrities. Social media users meanwhile - who have been long been fascinated by celebrity rankings - are weighing in on what the document might mean for their favourite celebrities, particularly Fan Bingbing. Many users of the Sina Weibo microblog have voiced their surprise and concern that she has ranked so low, given there is no evidence of her being involved in any misconduct. \"Fan Bingbing has been working on a public welfare project,\" one user said. Another added that for her to get zero was \"not right; she does a lot of public welfare.\" \"When the Tianjin fire broke out, Fan Bingbing donated one million yuan ($145,655; PS112,565) to the Tianjin Fire Brigade. Has all the good she's done before just been erased?\" one asked. The bad ratings given to other celebrities has caused annoyance as well. One user, for instance, pointed out that actor Jackie Chan and Tibetan singer Han Hong, who rank 42nd and 59th, are well-known philanthropists. Chinese celebrities have long understood that taking a path of \"virtue\" is key to maintaining mainland audiences, and that it's extremely difficult to bounce back after being linked to scandal. The country's media has also long stressed that celebrities need to spread \"positive energy\" among young audiences; in other words, to be upbeat and promote healthy moral values. So they have lauded celebrities who have, for example, openly condemned tobacco or drug use. But celebrities who voice opinions in line with government rhetoric gain even higher praise, for example if they promote the importance of young audiences referring to the self-ruling island of Taiwan as a \"Chinese region\" rather than a \"country\". This latest emphasis on social responsibility, which media and fans alike are taking as a new mark of power, could now put more pressure on them to do just that. 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": 1785, "answer_start": 882, "text": "She is known internationally as a singer and model, as well as for her appearance in the X-Men film franchise. Her name has been linked to a government probe involving celebrities using \"yin-yang contracts\" - a practice where one contract sets out an actor's real earnings, and another details a lower figure, with the latter submitted to the tax authorities. Although Fan Bingbing's studio denies any wrongdoing, online users are speculating that the reason she scored 0% is a result of the widely-circulated allegations, which state media have said have had a negative impact on society. There is no word on what has happened to Fan. However there is speculation she has been arrested. Most recently, state-run Chinese publication Securities Daily published a report which said she had been placed \"under control, and would \"accept the legal decision\". But the story was pulled down a few hours later." } ], "id": "898_0", "question": "Who is Fan Bingbing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2800, "answer_start": 1786, "text": "The authors said they studied the behaviour of 100 Chinese singers, actors, and public figures - based in China and abroad - to assess the extent of their social responsibility. They did not specify exactly how they arrived at the results in the test, but said that their findings were based on \"research and web-scraping\". Only nine celebrities were deemed to be socially responsible enough, however, with a pass requiring a score of more than 60%.The report stressed that celebrities had to do more to promote \"positive energy\" and hinted that they needed to be more aware of behaviour and actions that might have a \"negative social impact\". \"We wanted to have a more thorough evaluation of celebrities,\" Zhang Hongzhong, who led the project, told English-language news website Sixth Tone. He said that many celebrities were in danger of being simply branded \"little fresh meats\" - an internet buzzword used to describe good looking young men - and that their activism and philanthropy work was often overlooked." } ], "id": "898_1", "question": "How does the report rank stars?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3334, "answer_start": 2801, "text": "Top of the list is actor Xu Zheng (78%), who appeared in the highly acclaimed film Dying to Survive. The film was based on a true story about a Chinese man smuggling cheap Indian drugs into the mainland to help cancer sufferers. Two and three in the list are members of the hugely popular boy band TFBoys, in recognition of their philanthropic work. Another member comes fifth. Actor Yang Yang (61.%), who ranks ninth, is highlighted because he set up a charity to help educate underprivileged children in remote mountainous regions." } ], "id": "898_2", "question": "So who passed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4400, "answer_start": 3335, "text": "State media are highlighting the report as a significant document, and outlets are praising the higher-ranked celebrities. Social media users meanwhile - who have been long been fascinated by celebrity rankings - are weighing in on what the document might mean for their favourite celebrities, particularly Fan Bingbing. Many users of the Sina Weibo microblog have voiced their surprise and concern that she has ranked so low, given there is no evidence of her being involved in any misconduct. \"Fan Bingbing has been working on a public welfare project,\" one user said. Another added that for her to get zero was \"not right; she does a lot of public welfare.\" \"When the Tianjin fire broke out, Fan Bingbing donated one million yuan ($145,655; PS112,565) to the Tianjin Fire Brigade. Has all the good she's done before just been erased?\" one asked. The bad ratings given to other celebrities has caused annoyance as well. One user, for instance, pointed out that actor Jackie Chan and Tibetan singer Han Hong, who rank 42nd and 59th, are well-known philanthropists." } ], "id": "898_3", "question": "How did people react?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5426, "answer_start": 4401, "text": "Chinese celebrities have long understood that taking a path of \"virtue\" is key to maintaining mainland audiences, and that it's extremely difficult to bounce back after being linked to scandal. The country's media has also long stressed that celebrities need to spread \"positive energy\" among young audiences; in other words, to be upbeat and promote healthy moral values. So they have lauded celebrities who have, for example, openly condemned tobacco or drug use. But celebrities who voice opinions in line with government rhetoric gain even higher praise, for example if they promote the importance of young audiences referring to the self-ruling island of Taiwan as a \"Chinese region\" rather than a \"country\". This latest emphasis on social responsibility, which media and fans alike are taking as a new mark of power, could now put more pressure on them to do just that. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook." } ], "id": "898_4", "question": "Why does this report matter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The digital currency Bitcoin is rallying at phenomenal speed, leaving many high and others dry in markets around the world. But why are prices higher in India than elsewhere? The BBC's Devina Gupta explains. While the Bitcoin bull run has been welcomed by many, financial regulators in emerging economies are still trying to find a way to understand it. The central bank of China has shut down Bitcoin exchanges in the country. Indonesia and Bangladesh have banned its use as a payment tool. In India the government has made it clear that, while it doesn't recognise Bitcoin as \"legal tender\" like paper money, there are no guidelines on Bitcoin trading. In the absence of any specific legal framework, online Bitcoin trading platforms are operating freely, even as the Indian central bank is getting jittery. It has issued its third warning this week, cautioning \"users, holders and traders of virtual currencies including Bitcoin\" of \"economic, financial, operational, legal, consumer protection and security-related risks\". But is anyone listening? Experts claim that demand outweighs supply in India, pushing the Bitcoin price in the country up to 20% higher than international prices. There are at least 11 Indian Bitcoin trading platforms online which claim that about 30,000 customers are actively trading at any given point of time. With a simple click, an investor can open an account and choose whether to purchase an entire Bitcoin or a fraction to trade with. There are two key traits of Bitcoin: it is digital and it is seen as an alternative currency. Unlike the notes or coins in your pocket, it largely exists online. Secondly, Bitcoin is not printed by governments or traditional banks. A small but growing number of businesses, including Expedia and Microsoft, accept Bitcoins - which work like virtual tokens. However, the vast majority of users now buy and sell them as a financial investment. \"Last year this time we had 100,000 registered customers. Now we have gone up to 850,000. The price is surging and from my analysis the people who are investing in Bitcoins are investors who have big pockets and are willing to take risks on their portfolio,\" Satvik Vishwanathan, co-founder of Unocoin, told the BBC. And it's not just online trading. Some Indian e-commerce platforms have started recognising the digital currency as well. FlipKart and Amazon are already giving customers the option to convert Bitcoin into regular currency and purchase goods with it. But at the end of the day, Bitcoin is just an open software with a digital code. Is it more secure than depositing money in a bank? \"There is no architecture to hold the Bitcoins safely, so right now people are taking a physical print out and keeping that in a locker. What the government can do is start a global wallet registry so that we know who is transacting and where the transactions are being done. If my Bitcoin is stolen then with this global wallet at least you can track it,\" Vishal Gupta, co-founder of Diro Labs, told the BBC. But the time for just issuing warnings may be over. With the popularity of Bitcoin, other digital currencies like Ethereum and Litecoin are also attracting Indian investors. So is it time for the government to make its policy clear? \"There are revolutionary changes in this sector and huge progressive moves here. Technology is always ahead of government and is a big disruptor. It is important that we keep pace with technology and make regulatory changes. It is an issue that finance ministry has to debate and do inter-ministerial discussions to take it forward,\" Amitabh Kant, the CEO of India's premier think-tank Niti Aayog, told the BBC. Every high has a low. A look at the past five years of Bitcoin shows several stomach-churning moments where it has tumbled by 40% to 50% in a single day without any warning. The April 2013 Bitcoin meltdown where the currency fell by over 70% overnight from $233 to $67 still haunts many. But perhaps the biggest shot in the arm for Bitcoin investors is the recent green light from the US for futures trading. This decision has fuelled the recent Bitcoin rally. But Wall Street banks are raising concerns and heavyweights like Warren Buffet have red flagged Bitcoin as \"a real bubble\". This leads us to the big question: Is the digital currency an idea whose time has come or is it destined for disaster? Only time will tell.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1913, "answer_start": 1472, "text": "There are two key traits of Bitcoin: it is digital and it is seen as an alternative currency. Unlike the notes or coins in your pocket, it largely exists online. Secondly, Bitcoin is not printed by governments or traditional banks. A small but growing number of businesses, including Expedia and Microsoft, accept Bitcoins - which work like virtual tokens. However, the vast majority of users now buy and sell them as a financial investment." } ], "id": "899_0", "question": "What is Bitcoin?" } ] } ]