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[ { "context": "US special envoy Stephen Biegun has urged North Korea to come to the negotiating table, saying: \"We are here, let's get this done.\" His comments in Seoul come days after North Korea conducted missile tests at a satellite launch site. North Korea has set an end-of-year deadline for the US to come up with a new denuclearisation deal that would involve significant sanctions relief. It said the US could expect a \"Christmas gift\" if it did not comply. Mr Biegun - the US special representative for North Korea - called Pyongyang's statements \"hostile, negative and so unnecessary\", adding that the US had a \"goal... not a deadline\". He called for Pyongyang to enter talks with the US, saying to his North Korean counterparts: \"It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here and you know how to reach us.\" US President Donald Trump has said he will not lift sanctions until North Korea fully abandons its nuclear programme. North Korea said if the US did not make an acceptable offer, it would find a \"new way\". Pyongyang appears to have shut the door on further US talks, focusing instead on testing missiles. On 8 December, it said it carried out a \"very important test\". It held a second test less than a week later on 14 December. Both tests were said to be carried out at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground - a site that North Korea had promised to dismantle. It's not clear exactly what was being tested - but Ankit Panda, North Korea expert at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC it could be a ground test for a ballistic missile engine. The US and North Korea have reached a nuclear impasse. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his US counterpart Mr Trump held historic talks in Singapore in June 2018 and in Vietnam earlier this year aimed at denuclearisation. They also held \"impromptu\" talks at the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea in June. But talks have stalled since then - a recent meeting of officials in Stockholm ended without progress - and North Korea restarted testing of its short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea also appears to have renewed its verbal attacks against Mr Trump for the first time in two years. The foreign ministry said if Mr Trump was confrontational, it \"must really be diagnosed as the relapse of the dotage of a dotard\". The North first called Mr Trump a dotard, meaning old and weak, in 2017.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1580, "answer_start": 1030, "text": "Pyongyang appears to have shut the door on further US talks, focusing instead on testing missiles. On 8 December, it said it carried out a \"very important test\". It held a second test less than a week later on 14 December. Both tests were said to be carried out at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground - a site that North Korea had promised to dismantle. It's not clear exactly what was being tested - but Ankit Panda, North Korea expert at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC it could be a ground test for a ballistic missile engine." } ], "id": "100_0", "question": "What tests did North Korea carry out?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2401, "answer_start": 1581, "text": "The US and North Korea have reached a nuclear impasse. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his US counterpart Mr Trump held historic talks in Singapore in June 2018 and in Vietnam earlier this year aimed at denuclearisation. They also held \"impromptu\" talks at the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea in June. But talks have stalled since then - a recent meeting of officials in Stockholm ended without progress - and North Korea restarted testing of its short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea also appears to have renewed its verbal attacks against Mr Trump for the first time in two years. The foreign ministry said if Mr Trump was confrontational, it \"must really be diagnosed as the relapse of the dotage of a dotard\". The North first called Mr Trump a dotard, meaning old and weak, in 2017." } ], "id": "100_1", "question": "How are US - North Korea relations?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Broadway has paid tribute to child star Laurel Griggs who has died aged 13. Her family says she suffered a \"massive asthma attack\". Griggs made her Broadway debut when she was just six, performing alongside actress Scarlett Johansson in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The role led to a career in theatre, TV and movies. She made two appearances on Saturday Night Live - the legendary US comedy sketch show. Broadway has dimmed its lights to honour of the young star. After playing Polly in Cat in a Hot Tin Roof, Laurel joined the cast of Once, a Tony award-winning musical. She also appeared in Cafe Society, a romantic comedy starring Steve Carell. The news of her death last week was met with tributes throughout the theatre community at the weekend. \"You were always smiling and always made other people laugh,\" wrote Once co-star Eliza Holland Madore. \"I'm so incredibly grateful that I got to know you.\" Her asthma was diagnosed at a young age, her grandfather David Rivlin told the New York Times. \"She took her medication every day and had some kind of machine for breathing if she needed it,\" he said. \"It's just a destructive disease... God only knows what she could have done with her life.\" Asthma is a disease that causes a swelling of the airways, resulting in breathlessness, wheezing, coughing and a tight chest. The World Health Organization reports it is the most common chronic disease among children, and around 235 million people suffer from asthma worldwide. Asthma attacks can be triggered by a number of environmental factors, including smoke, pollution, allergens like mould or illnesses like the flu. There is no cure for the condition, but it can be managed with medication, like inhalers. More than 19 million adults and five million children in the US have asthma, according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data. The CDC reported over 3,500 Americans died from asthma in 2017, and asthma led to more than 1.7 million emergency room visits in 2016. In the UK, more than 1,400 adults and children died from asthma attacks in 2018.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2054, "answer_start": 1195, "text": "Asthma is a disease that causes a swelling of the airways, resulting in breathlessness, wheezing, coughing and a tight chest. The World Health Organization reports it is the most common chronic disease among children, and around 235 million people suffer from asthma worldwide. Asthma attacks can be triggered by a number of environmental factors, including smoke, pollution, allergens like mould or illnesses like the flu. There is no cure for the condition, but it can be managed with medication, like inhalers. More than 19 million adults and five million children in the US have asthma, according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data. The CDC reported over 3,500 Americans died from asthma in 2017, and asthma led to more than 1.7 million emergency room visits in 2016. In the UK, more than 1,400 adults and children died from asthma attacks in 2018." } ], "id": "101_0", "question": "What is asthma?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "As the Cuban Communist Party prepares for its Seventh Congress, the BBC's Will Grant looks at what message is coming from the party in the wake of US President Barack Obama's historic visit. Just a glance around Havana's latest trade fair is enough to demonstrate the global interest in Cuba's gradually opening economy. This month, it's the turn of the construction industry - a growing business in Cuba - and companies from France, Mexico, Brazil and Chile are among those with stands at the event. The exhibition hall is thick with prospective clients leafing through glossy brochures, watching slick promotional videos or testing the products on show. Everyone, it seems, is keen to get in on the ground floor of the island's emerging real estate and hospitality markets. \"We've heard there are over 120 hotels that are going to open here or begin construction over the next year and we want to be part of that,\" says Scott Banda, the marketing director of Bostik, the multinational adhesives brand. Noticeably, US companies have also made the short trip to Havana in ever greater numbers since the thaw with Washington picked up pace. \"I've always had a real interest in Cuba and Cuban culture and art. It's an amazing art scene here,\" says Ted Acworth, the chief executive of Artaic, a Boston-based firm that makes mosaics from ceramic tiles for swimming pools and hotel lobbies. \"When I heard Obama had come here to more or less open up the relationship, it seemed to me like an interesting opportunity to come here, to learn about Cuba and see if there's any interest in my products.\" President Obama's historic visit to the island is still fresh in the memory for Cubans, many of whom never thought they'd see the day a serving US president would address them live on state television in Havana. His words of reconciliation moved many viewers to tears as the years of hostility seemed finally to be brought to an end when he quoted Cuban independence poet Jose Marti's immortal line: \"Cultivo una rosa blanca\" (\"Cultivate a white rose\"). But not everyone was entranced by President Obama's performance or his offer of \"extending the hand of friendship to the Cuban people\". In the days immediately after the trip, Fidel Castro wrote a column in the state newspaper calling President Obama's words \"honey-coated\". In essence, Castro argued that Washington wasn't to be trusted and that \"we do not need any gifts from the empire\". \"Obama is a showman,\" says Hector Hernandez, vice-president of the state-run Institute for Studies of Jose Marti and long-standing member of the Communist Party. \"He's charismatic, he makes jokes, they prepared him well with Cuban phrases to say while he was here. He's a showman.\" But as the Cuban Communist Party's Seventh Congress gets under way, critics say the Cuban government's exact position on President Obama and the thaw with the United States still isn't clear. \"I wouldn't say it's a mixed message,\" says Hector Hernandez. \"I think Fidel and Raul think the same way.\" But he does acknowledge that \"there are two visions\" within the party of how best to proceed when it comes to the US. \"There's those who don't want to forget the past and those who say they just want to turn the page. But I think these two things can complement each other. You can turn the page while still recognising and respecting the past.\" While the improved relations with Washington have dominated the headlines, a great deal has happened in Cuba since the last CCP congress was held five years ago. - The Seventh Congress meets on 16-18 April - Meets every five years - Key body in determining Cuba's future economic and political course - About 1,000 party members will attend At that meeting in 2011 a whole raft of economic reforms were agreed, 313 to be exact, intended to open the economy and allow a greater role for private enterprise. To date, by the government's own admission, only 21% of those measures have been implemented. Before the previous congress, a nationwide debate was held with party activists and grassroots organisations to determine the country's new economic course. On this occasion, though, no such national debate has been held, prompting some open criticism from the party ranks. One activist, Francisco Rodriguez, even took to writing an open letter to Raul Castro, the first party secretary as well as President of Cuba, in which he spoke of his \"dissatisfaction\" at \"the lack of discussion of the central documents\" before the congress. Normally the youth wing of the party leads the calls for greater transparency and democracy within the organisation. Yoerky Sanchez is one of the youngest deputies in the National Assembly and an editor at the state newspaper, Rebel Youth. But he is firmly on message when it comes to the party's hierarchical decision-making processes. \"There could always be more democracy, a greater spirit of openness. You can never have too much democracy,\" he concedes. \"But the agenda for the party congress wasn't cooked up in secret by a handful of bureaucrats. It was debated by many representatives of society, including parliamentary deputies.\" Maybe so, but the final documents are still not public and the sense of behind-the-scenes political negotiation contrasts sharply with the open demeanour of President Obama, who impressed ordinary Cubans with his frankness. Still, most Cubans will be watching the event closely. The Party's Seventh Congress could involve some important announcements - including hitherto unprecedented changes to the political system. Raul Castro is 84 years old and has already made clear his intention to step down in early 2018. The party hierarchy may choose to prepare the ground for his succession sooner rather than later. When asked about the recent changes in Cuba, Communist Party activists often recite a popular slogan: \"The changes will move Cuba towards more socialism, not more capitalism.\" As Havana's construction fair makes way for the party congress, the next few days may show whether there is any substance to that oft-repeated claim.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6078, "answer_start": 5139, "text": "Maybe so, but the final documents are still not public and the sense of behind-the-scenes political negotiation contrasts sharply with the open demeanour of President Obama, who impressed ordinary Cubans with his frankness. Still, most Cubans will be watching the event closely. The Party's Seventh Congress could involve some important announcements - including hitherto unprecedented changes to the political system. Raul Castro is 84 years old and has already made clear his intention to step down in early 2018. The party hierarchy may choose to prepare the ground for his succession sooner rather than later. When asked about the recent changes in Cuba, Communist Party activists often recite a popular slogan: \"The changes will move Cuba towards more socialism, not more capitalism.\" As Havana's construction fair makes way for the party congress, the next few days may show whether there is any substance to that oft-repeated claim." } ], "id": "102_0", "question": "Succession preparations?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Italian police are investigating a leaked photo of a blindfolded American teenager who is accused of killing an officer in Rome. The photo of murder suspect Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 18, was shown by Italian media on Sunday. Mr Natale-Hjorth and his friend, 19-year-old Finnegan Lee Elder, were arrested on suspicion of killing police officer Mario Cerciello Rega on Friday. Rega, 35, was stabbed to death in the Prati neighbourhood of Rome. He was allegedly knifed eight times after he investigated a drug deal gone wrong involving the teen suspects. Police have alleged that Mr Natale-Hjorth and Mr Elder, both students from San Francisco, California, \"confessed to their guilt\". The picture of Mr Natale-Hjorth, showing him blindfolded with his head bowed and hands restrained behind his back, was taken after their arrest. It was leaked to Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, whose article about the picture likened it to the treatment of prisoners at the US military detention camp Guantanamo Bay. Italy's military police, the Carabinieri, has sought to distance itself from the leak of the photo and has launched an investigation. \"This is an unacceptable episode and should be treated as such,\" commander general of the force, Giovanni Nistri, told Corriere della Sera. Police commander Francesco Gargaro said the blindfolding of a suspect is \"illegal\", telling the Associated Press that the officer responsible did so by \"mistake\". The officer blindfolded Mr Natale-Hjorth to prevent him from seeing documents pertaining to the investigation, the commander said. Italian news agency Ansa reported that the officer is to be taken off operational duty. Italian politicians and human rights groups expressed concern at the photo, but Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini was less sympathetic. \"To those who complain about the blindfolding of a person arrested, I remind them that the only victim to cry for is a ... Carabinieri... who died while doing his job, killed by people who, if guilty, deserve to spend their life in prison,\" Mr Salvini tweeted. The two suspects were allegedly in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City, trying to buy drugs. They are said to have stolen a rucksack from an alleged drug dealer who had sold them fake product, according to Ansa. They reportedly offered to bring it back to him, if he paid them $100 (PS80; EUR90) and gave them a gram of cocaine. As they waited, they were approached by Rega and a colleague as part of a plain-clothed operation because the police had been tipped off about the bag exchange, Ansa reported. A brawl ensued, during which Rega was stabbed several times. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries. Mr Natale-Hjorth and Mr Elder, who face charges of murder and attempted extortion, appeared in court on Saturday. Officers found a large knife hidden in the false ceiling of their hotel room. The pair were \"ready to leave\" Italy when found, police said. Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week. \"Mario was a lovely lad,\" Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa. \"He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy.\" Grieving family members and friends paid tribute to Rega at a church ceremony in Rome on Sunday. His funeral will be held in his hometown of Somma Vesuviana, near Naples, on Monday, in the same church in which he was married.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2956, "answer_start": 2074, "text": "The two suspects were allegedly in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City, trying to buy drugs. They are said to have stolen a rucksack from an alleged drug dealer who had sold them fake product, according to Ansa. They reportedly offered to bring it back to him, if he paid them $100 (PS80; EUR90) and gave them a gram of cocaine. As they waited, they were approached by Rega and a colleague as part of a plain-clothed operation because the police had been tipped off about the bag exchange, Ansa reported. A brawl ensued, during which Rega was stabbed several times. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries. Mr Natale-Hjorth and Mr Elder, who face charges of murder and attempted extortion, appeared in court on Saturday. Officers found a large knife hidden in the false ceiling of their hotel room. The pair were \"ready to leave\" Italy when found, police said." } ], "id": "103_0", "question": "What do we know about Rega's killing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3655, "answer_start": 2957, "text": "Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week. \"Mario was a lovely lad,\" Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa. \"He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy.\" Grieving family members and friends paid tribute to Rega at a church ceremony in Rome on Sunday. His funeral will be held in his hometown of Somma Vesuviana, near Naples, on Monday, in the same church in which he was married." } ], "id": "103_1", "question": "Who was the victim?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Researchers say an area the size of the US is available for planting trees around the world, and this could have a dramatic impact on climate change. The study shows that the space available for trees is far greater than previously thought, and would reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by 25%. The authors say that this is the most effective climate change solution available to the world right now. But other researchers say the new study is \"too good to be true\". The ability of trees to soak up carbon dioxide has long made them a valuable weapon in the fight against rising temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that if the world wanted to limit the rise to 1.5C by 2050, an extra 1bn hectares (2.4bn acres) of trees would be needed. The problem has been that accurate estimates of just how many trees the world can support have been hard to come by. This new report aims to show not just how many trees can be grown, but where they could be planted and how much of an impact they would have on carbon emissions. The scientists from ETH-Zurich in Switzerland used a method called photo-interpretation to examine a global dataset of observations covering 78,000 forests. Using the mapping software of the Google Earth engine they were able to develop a predictive model to map the global potential for tree cover. They found that excluding existing trees, farmland and urban areas, the world could support an extra 0.9bn hectares (2.22bn acres) of tree cover. Once these trees matured they could pull down around 200 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide, some two-thirds of extra carbon from human activities put into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. This is a quarter of the overall amount of CO2 in the air. \"Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best climate change solution available today and it provides hard evidence to justify investment,\" said Prof Tom Crowther, the senior author on the study. \"If we act now, this could cut carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by up to 25%, to levels last seen almost a century ago.\" The researchers identify six countries where the bulk of the forest restoration could occur: Russia (151m hectares), US (103m), Canada (78m), Australia (58m), Brazil (50m) and China (40m). But they say speed is of the essence because as the world continues to warm then the potential area for planting trees in the tropics would be reduced. \"It will take decades for new forests to mature and achieve this potential,\" said Prof Crowther. \"It is vitally important that we protect the forests that exist today, pursue other climate solutions, and continue to phase out fossil fuels from our economies.\" The new study has been welcomed by Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief, who was instrumental in delivering the Paris climate agreement in 2015. \"Finally an authoritative assessment of how much land we can and should cover with trees without impinging on food production or living areas,\" she said in a statement. \"A hugely important blueprint for governments and private sector.\" However not everyone was as effusive about the new study. Several researchers expressed reservations, taking issue with the idea that planting trees was the best climate solution available to the world right now. \"Restoration of trees may be 'among the most effective strategies', but it is very far indeed from 'the best climate change solution available,' and a long way behind reducing fossil fuel emissions to net zero,\" said Prof Myles Allen from the University of Oxford. Others are critical of the estimates of carbon that could be stored if these trees were planted. \"The estimate that 900 million hectares restoration can store an addition 205 billion tonnes of carbon is too high and not supported by either previous studies or climate models,\" said Prof Simon Lewis from University College London. \"Planting trees to soak up two-thirds of the entire anthropogenic carbon burden to date sounds too good to be true. Probably because it is,\" said Prof Martin Lukac from the University of Reading. \"This far, humans have enhanced forest cover on a large scale only by shrinking their population size (Russia), increasing productivity of industrial agriculture (the West) or by direct order of an autocratic government (China). None of these activities look remotely feasible or sustainable at global scale.\" The study has been published in the journal Science. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4479, "answer_start": 3070, "text": "However not everyone was as effusive about the new study. Several researchers expressed reservations, taking issue with the idea that planting trees was the best climate solution available to the world right now. \"Restoration of trees may be 'among the most effective strategies', but it is very far indeed from 'the best climate change solution available,' and a long way behind reducing fossil fuel emissions to net zero,\" said Prof Myles Allen from the University of Oxford. Others are critical of the estimates of carbon that could be stored if these trees were planted. \"The estimate that 900 million hectares restoration can store an addition 205 billion tonnes of carbon is too high and not supported by either previous studies or climate models,\" said Prof Simon Lewis from University College London. \"Planting trees to soak up two-thirds of the entire anthropogenic carbon burden to date sounds too good to be true. Probably because it is,\" said Prof Martin Lukac from the University of Reading. \"This far, humans have enhanced forest cover on a large scale only by shrinking their population size (Russia), increasing productivity of industrial agriculture (the West) or by direct order of an autocratic government (China). None of these activities look remotely feasible or sustainable at global scale.\" The study has been published in the journal Science. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc." } ], "id": "104_0", "question": "What do the critics say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Women in Bangladesh are no longer required to declare if they are virgins on marriage registration forms, the country's top court has ruled. The high court ordered that \"virgin\" be replaced with \"unmarried\". The other two options on the form - \"widow\" and \"divorced\" - remain unchanged. Women's rights groups - who had argued the word \"virgin\" was humiliating - welcomed Sunday's verdict. Separately, the court said grooms now also must declare their marital status. Marriage laws in the Muslim-majority Bangladesh have been criticised by women's rights groups as restrictive and discriminatory. Many girls in the country are forced into arranged marriages at a very young age. The court said the Bengali word \"kumari\" must be removed from marriage registration forms. The word is used to describe unmarried women, but it can also mean \"virgin\". Lawyers for the groups who filed the case in 2014 had successfully argued that the marriage forms were humiliating and breached women's privacy. On Sunday, the court said the Bengali word \"obibahita\", which unambiguously means \"an unmarried woman\" - must be used from now on instead of \"kumari\". In a separate ruling, the court required grooms to state whether they are unmarried, divorced or widowed. The changes are expected to come into force in a few months when the full court verdict is officially published. \"It is a landmark verdict,\" Aynun Nahar Siddiqua, a lawyer involved in the case, was quoted as saying. She said she hoped the ruling would help advance women's rights in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, a local marriage registrar said he and his colleagues were now waiting for the authorities to officially inform them about the changes in the form. \"I have conducted many marriages in Dhaka and I have often been asked why men have the liberty to not disclose their status but women don't. I always told them this wasn't in my hands,\" registrar Mohammad Ali Akbar Sarker told Reuters. \"I guess I won't be asked that question anymore,\" he added.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1360, "answer_start": 678, "text": "The court said the Bengali word \"kumari\" must be removed from marriage registration forms. The word is used to describe unmarried women, but it can also mean \"virgin\". Lawyers for the groups who filed the case in 2014 had successfully argued that the marriage forms were humiliating and breached women's privacy. On Sunday, the court said the Bengali word \"obibahita\", which unambiguously means \"an unmarried woman\" - must be used from now on instead of \"kumari\". In a separate ruling, the court required grooms to state whether they are unmarried, divorced or widowed. The changes are expected to come into force in a few months when the full court verdict is officially published." } ], "id": "105_0", "question": "What did the court rule?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1997, "answer_start": 1361, "text": "\"It is a landmark verdict,\" Aynun Nahar Siddiqua, a lawyer involved in the case, was quoted as saying. She said she hoped the ruling would help advance women's rights in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, a local marriage registrar said he and his colleagues were now waiting for the authorities to officially inform them about the changes in the form. \"I have conducted many marriages in Dhaka and I have often been asked why men have the liberty to not disclose their status but women don't. I always told them this wasn't in my hands,\" registrar Mohammad Ali Akbar Sarker told Reuters. \"I guess I won't be asked that question anymore,\" he added." } ], "id": "105_1", "question": "What has the reaction been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "China's constitution allows independent candidates to run in local elections but it is a futile exercise for those who dare to get their names on the ballot. In the heart of Beijing's old alleyways, the polling station is bathed in autumn sunlight. It is busy. An elderly man has turned up with his wife on the back of his tricycle. Three nurses, clutching their voter registration certificates, arrive on foot in deep conversation while election officials and policemen oversee the whole affair. On the surface, it is a scene that would be recognisable to voters in democratic countries the world over. But of course, this is China and the reality is very different. We drive to the outskirts of Beijing to meet Liu Huizhen, a 45-year-old woman who wants nothing more than the right to take part in this election. She has managed to secure the ten nominations from fellow citizens that, according to Chinese law, are needed to allow her name to go forward for inclusion on the ballot as an independent candidate but she is not out campaigning. Instead, she is living under constant surveillance and, as we approach her front door, it is quickly surrounded by a group of unidentified men who stand in silence and block our way. By reaching over their heads I manage to knock and a few moments later, Ms Liu appears in her doorway. But as she begins to tell me why she wants to exercise her democratic right, the door is pushed shut and the thugs lean against it. She makes an attempt to open a window but it too is forced shut and she is, once again, prevented from speaking to us. China calls its five-yearly, nationwide exercise in voting the \"world's largest election\". This week it is Beijing's turn, but by early next year, according to state-run media, 900 million people the length and breadth of China will have cast their ballots. As a result, more than 2.5 million deputies will take their seats in thousands of local \"people's congresses\". Those local deputies will in turn \"elect\" the city and provincial level congresses above them, and so on all the way to very top. So these local polls are the only chance most Chinese people get to vote but there is a crucial, unofficial caveat. It is the Communist Party that decides who gets on to the ballot. For the vast majority of would-be independent candidates the task of obtaining the requisite ten nominations is made so difficult that their quest for office is over before it even begins. More sinned against than sinning? Outcry over 'common man' execution Drugs, money and wildlife: Myanmar's free-wheeling Wa state India's rupee crisis: The village with cash worth nothing We arrange to meet another election hopeful, 59-year-old Ye Jingchun, at her apartment complex in Beijing. The residents' committee has called a meeting to introduce the approved list of candidates, which Ms Ye is not on, and we are hoping to speak to her after the meeting is finished. This time it is a police officer who is there at the entrance waiting for us. We are not allowed in and Ms Ye is not allowed out but a few hours later we manage to catch up with her. \"They were polite,\" she tells me, standing on the pavement outside a shopping mall. \"But I couldn't leave the room. There were more than a dozen of them.\" Her motivation for wanting to stand is a simple one. \"I was once trying to find my own local delegate and I could not, I did not even know who he was,\" she tells me. \"So I told myself, if I become a delegate, I could serve people who are at the bottom of society, who really need their delegate's help. I would not be a puppet.\" It is a noble calling, one that would be recognised by those who choose to represent their local communities the world over. But here, it is little more than a futile aspiration. \"First of all, we need to get the nomination forms,\" Ms Ye tells me, \"which are extremely difficult to get. In fact, the community officer warned residents not to nominate me.\" There has been scant coverage of the local elections in China's state-run media, beyond the usual bald facts and figures. Nonetheless, an altogether different kind of election, a long way from China, has been occupying the attention of the Community Party's propagandists. China's journalists have had full, unfettered access to America's open system of democracy and have used that access to full effect. They have covered the US election as a case study in all that is wrong with Western democracy - the dissatisfaction with elites, the bitter, divisive nature of the campaign and the concerns over media bias and corporate influence. And Chinese readers of this Communist Party-led reporting have been constantly reminded that they should think of themselves as lucky. The US campaign has been described as \"circus-like,\" a \"chaotic political farce\" and a \"train wreck\". Of course, some of those sentiments could very well be written from the pens of Western journalists. That, though, is the point. Democracy is recognised, even by its strongest proponents as flawed and vulnerable to manipulation but that does not necessarily make it worse than the alternatives. Public dissent, social discord and a simmering resentment of the ruling classes are not unique to America or Britain. And the thuggery and heavy-handed control are signs that behind the supposed political unity of China's one-party state lies a deep unease. It springs from the knowledge that even one independent candidate presents a threat to the very premise on which the whole system is based. There is no reciprocal, open invitation to the foreign media to freely observe, report and comment. Outside Ms Liu's house, the thugs have had enough. The group, now some 20 or 30 strong, grab at our coats and drag us roughly down the road to where our car is parked.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5783, "answer_start": 3593, "text": "It is a noble calling, one that would be recognised by those who choose to represent their local communities the world over. But here, it is little more than a futile aspiration. \"First of all, we need to get the nomination forms,\" Ms Ye tells me, \"which are extremely difficult to get. In fact, the community officer warned residents not to nominate me.\" There has been scant coverage of the local elections in China's state-run media, beyond the usual bald facts and figures. Nonetheless, an altogether different kind of election, a long way from China, has been occupying the attention of the Community Party's propagandists. China's journalists have had full, unfettered access to America's open system of democracy and have used that access to full effect. They have covered the US election as a case study in all that is wrong with Western democracy - the dissatisfaction with elites, the bitter, divisive nature of the campaign and the concerns over media bias and corporate influence. And Chinese readers of this Communist Party-led reporting have been constantly reminded that they should think of themselves as lucky. The US campaign has been described as \"circus-like,\" a \"chaotic political farce\" and a \"train wreck\". Of course, some of those sentiments could very well be written from the pens of Western journalists. That, though, is the point. Democracy is recognised, even by its strongest proponents as flawed and vulnerable to manipulation but that does not necessarily make it worse than the alternatives. Public dissent, social discord and a simmering resentment of the ruling classes are not unique to America or Britain. And the thuggery and heavy-handed control are signs that behind the supposed political unity of China's one-party state lies a deep unease. It springs from the knowledge that even one independent candidate presents a threat to the very premise on which the whole system is based. There is no reciprocal, open invitation to the foreign media to freely observe, report and comment. Outside Ms Liu's house, the thugs have had enough. The group, now some 20 or 30 strong, grab at our coats and drag us roughly down the road to where our car is parked." } ], "id": "106_0", "question": "Luckier than Americans?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An artist in India is challenging sexist drawings of women in comic books by parodying them using male heroes in poses typically associated with women. She-Hulk has superhuman strength and speed and is one of the most formidable hand-to-hand combatants in the Marvel world. Like Hulk, not only does she have physical power, she's also completely green. Yet, on a 1991 comic book cover, she is shown in a seductive pose, wearing a G-string bikini, with her curves sharply accentuated. Indian artist Shreya Arora was shocked when she saw the image. \"For Hulk, the visual representation focuses on his strength. For She-Hulk, all we see is an emphasis on sexuality,\" says Arora, who grew up reading comic books. The 21-year-old graphic designer decided she wanted to flip the narrative. Her artwork draws inspiration from comic book covers but parodies the male superheroes using body language typically associated with women. The result - covers with familiar characters, such as Superman and Batman, in strikingly unusual poses and outfits. A scantily-clad Spiderman is pictured in only a thong, a coy Hulk covers himself with a newspaper, while an Iron Man with prominent buttocks crawls on a ledge. \"The way female heroines are drawn would never be applied to men,\" Arora tells BBC 100 Women. Marvel, DC and other publishers in the comic world have been accused of sexism before. But Arora, who is in her third year at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, says she only noticed the issue while she was studying in France. \"Maybe seeing comics with text in a language I wasn't familiar with, made me focus more on the visuals,\" she says. Part of the problem is that \"comic books are very often drawn by men, for men to enjoy\", she argues. \"The current depiction of superheroines exists because of this vicious cycle. Companies decide on a specific target market and then use that demographic as a reason to continue the same problematic process of content creation. \"I wish comic book publishers would see that there is definitely a market for more inclusive comics.\" Her project has been criticised for not acknowledging that comics show not only female characters with unrealistic body shapes and poses, but male ones too. Arora maintains the comics are misogynistic, particularly on the front covers. \"Body standards for men, with huge biceps and rock-hard abs, exist to make them look strong and powerful, which superheroes are known for,\" she says. \"The body standards for women are tweaked to make them look sexy. \"People deem the body types of real-life athletic, strong women, like Serena Williams, 'too masculine'. \"If creators wanted to make superheroines look strong, they have plenty of real life inspiration to choose from.\" Arora is working on other projects that look at sexist representations of the female body and gender imbalance in media. She is behind a bogus magazine ad showing a woman with zipped-up lips, unable to speak out against domestic abuse. Her image of a magazine cover has the headline, \"Why getting sexually assaulted is your fault\" - a prompt to start a conversation about victim-blaming. \"While there are a lot of young, passionate artists currently working on social issues and starting important conversations, even these conversations have a privilege bar - people with access to the internet, fluent in English, and to an extent, visually literate,\" says Arora. \"But there are people in India and other countries, who do not fit these criteria. I want to bridge the gap between all this good intent, and the lack of impact at a grass-roots level\". Produced by Valeria Perasso, social affairs correspondent for BBC Languages. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook and join the conversation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3967, "answer_start": 3677, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook and join the conversation." } ], "id": "107_0", "question": "What is 100 Women?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee has vowed to investigate allegations that top FBI and justice department officials discussed ways to remove President Trump from office. Senator Lindsey Graham said the claims were an \"attempted bureaucratic coup\". Ex-acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had talks in 2017 about a constitutional clause that allows the removal of a president if deemed unfit. Mr Rosenstein has previously denied it. The pledge by Mr Graham, a Republican who has become one of the president's biggest defenders, comes after Mr McCabe appeared on US broadcaster CBS saying Mr Rosenstein discussed the numbers needed to invoke the clause, known as the 25th Amendment to the US constitution. In the 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday, Mr McCabe also said that: - The FBI \"had reason to investigate\" the president's links with Russia, based on Mr Trump's actions - Mr Rosenstein had been \"absolutely serious\" when he discussed secretly wearing a wire to record Mr Trump - Mr Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told him North Korea did not have the capability to hit the US with ballistic missiles - and, when US intelligence officials contradicted this assessment, responded with: \"I don't care. I believe Putin\" The White House said Mr McCabe, who was fired last year for allegedly lying to government investigators, had \"no credibility\". President Trump has posted several tweets on Monday morning in response to the interview, and what he described as \"many lies\" by the \"now disgraced\" Mr McCabe. He also said that it looked like him and Mr Rosenstein were attempting to carry out a \"very illegal act\" and a \"coup attempt\" against his leadership. The allegations that Mr Rosenstein discussed invoking the amendment were first reported last year by the New York Times, which cited anonymous sources. However, Mr McCabe's quotes are the first to be made on the record from someone present at the meeting where the alleged comments were reportedly made - in May 2017, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey, according to Mr McCabe. \"The discussion of the 25th Amendment was simply [that] Rod raised the issue and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort,\" he said. Mr McCabe also said Mr Rosenstein was openly \"counting votes, or possible votes\" and that he was \"very concerned\" about the president \"his capacity and about his intent at that point in time.\" \"To be fair, it was an unbelievably stressful time... it was really something that he kind of threw out in a very frenzied chaotic conversation about where we were and what we needed to do next.\" Mr Rosenstein has previously strongly denied having such discussions, saying there was \"no basis\" to invoking the amendment. Reacting to the interview, Senator Graham described it as \"stunning\" and pledged to hold a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine \"who's telling the truth\" and that he could issue subpoenas - a court order forcing a witness to appear to give testimony - \"if that's what it takes\". The powerful committee he chairs oversees the US judiciary. \"I think everybody in the country needs to know if it happened. I'm going to do everything I can to get to the bottom of Department of Justice [and] FBI behaviour toward President Trump and his campaign,\" he told CBS. It provides for the removal of a president if he is deemed unfit for office. Duties are transferred to the vice-president. Activating the relevant section of the 25th Amendment would require the approval of eight of the 15 members of Mr Trump's cabinet, the vice-president and two-thirds majorities in Congress. Ronald Reagan and George W Bush used the amendment to temporarily transfer power when they were medically anaesthetised. Mr Rosenstein is also alleged to have offered to secretly record Mr Trump, amid concerns about possible obstruction of justice relating to the investigation into alleged collusion between the president's campaign team and Russia. When the allegations first emerged in the New York Times, Mr Rosenstein said the report was \"inaccurate and factually incorrect\". A source told the BBC at the time that Mr Rosenstein's comment \"was sarcastic and was never discussed with any intention of recording a conversation with the president\". However, Mr McCabe said that Mr Rosenstein \"was not joking. He was absolutely serious\". \"It was incredibly turbulent, incredibly stressful. And it was clear to me that that stress was - was impacting the deputy attorney general. \"We talked about why the president had insisted on firing [Mr Comey] and whether or not he was thinking about the Russia investigation. And in the context of that conversation, the deputy attorney general offered to wear a wire into the White House. \"I never actually considered taking him up on the offer,\" he added. Mr McCabe said the FBI was right to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. When Mr Trump had told journalists and Russian diplomats that the Russia inquiry was among the reasons he had fired Mr Comey, his comments indicated that \"a crime may have been committed\", he said. Mr McCabe said he was \"very concerned\" about the Russia case, and wanted to ensure that \"were I removed quickly and reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace\". The justice department says Mr McCabe's account is \"inaccurate and factually incorrect\". It also denied Mr Rosenstein authorised any recording or considered invoking the Amendment. Meanwhile, the White House said: \"Andrew McCabe was fired in disgrace from the FBI for lying, and he opened a completely baseless investigation into the president - everyone knows he has no credibility.\" Mr McCabe, who took over the FBI in 2017, was himself fired as deputy director in March last year just two days before he was due to retire. He was sacked by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators. Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He has now written a book on his time in the post.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3417, "answer_start": 1732, "text": "The allegations that Mr Rosenstein discussed invoking the amendment were first reported last year by the New York Times, which cited anonymous sources. However, Mr McCabe's quotes are the first to be made on the record from someone present at the meeting where the alleged comments were reportedly made - in May 2017, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey, according to Mr McCabe. \"The discussion of the 25th Amendment was simply [that] Rod raised the issue and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort,\" he said. Mr McCabe also said Mr Rosenstein was openly \"counting votes, or possible votes\" and that he was \"very concerned\" about the president \"his capacity and about his intent at that point in time.\" \"To be fair, it was an unbelievably stressful time... it was really something that he kind of threw out in a very frenzied chaotic conversation about where we were and what we needed to do next.\" Mr Rosenstein has previously strongly denied having such discussions, saying there was \"no basis\" to invoking the amendment. Reacting to the interview, Senator Graham described it as \"stunning\" and pledged to hold a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine \"who's telling the truth\" and that he could issue subpoenas - a court order forcing a witness to appear to give testimony - \"if that's what it takes\". The powerful committee he chairs oversees the US judiciary. \"I think everybody in the country needs to know if it happened. I'm going to do everything I can to get to the bottom of Department of Justice [and] FBI behaviour toward President Trump and his campaign,\" he told CBS." } ], "id": "108_0", "question": "What are the 25th Amendment claims?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3850, "answer_start": 3418, "text": "It provides for the removal of a president if he is deemed unfit for office. Duties are transferred to the vice-president. Activating the relevant section of the 25th Amendment would require the approval of eight of the 15 members of Mr Trump's cabinet, the vice-president and two-thirds majorities in Congress. Ronald Reagan and George W Bush used the amendment to temporarily transfer power when they were medically anaesthetised." } ], "id": "108_1", "question": "What is the 25th Amendment?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4927, "answer_start": 3851, "text": "Mr Rosenstein is also alleged to have offered to secretly record Mr Trump, amid concerns about possible obstruction of justice relating to the investigation into alleged collusion between the president's campaign team and Russia. When the allegations first emerged in the New York Times, Mr Rosenstein said the report was \"inaccurate and factually incorrect\". A source told the BBC at the time that Mr Rosenstein's comment \"was sarcastic and was never discussed with any intention of recording a conversation with the president\". However, Mr McCabe said that Mr Rosenstein \"was not joking. He was absolutely serious\". \"It was incredibly turbulent, incredibly stressful. And it was clear to me that that stress was - was impacting the deputy attorney general. \"We talked about why the president had insisted on firing [Mr Comey] and whether or not he was thinking about the Russia investigation. And in the context of that conversation, the deputy attorney general offered to wear a wire into the White House. \"I never actually considered taking him up on the offer,\" he added." } ], "id": "108_2", "question": "What is the claim about secret recordings?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5412, "answer_start": 4928, "text": "Mr McCabe said the FBI was right to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. When Mr Trump had told journalists and Russian diplomats that the Russia inquiry was among the reasons he had fired Mr Comey, his comments indicated that \"a crime may have been committed\", he said. Mr McCabe said he was \"very concerned\" about the Russia case, and wanted to ensure that \"were I removed quickly and reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace\"." } ], "id": "108_3", "question": "What did McCabe say about the Russia inquiry?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6276, "answer_start": 5413, "text": "The justice department says Mr McCabe's account is \"inaccurate and factually incorrect\". It also denied Mr Rosenstein authorised any recording or considered invoking the Amendment. Meanwhile, the White House said: \"Andrew McCabe was fired in disgrace from the FBI for lying, and he opened a completely baseless investigation into the president - everyone knows he has no credibility.\" Mr McCabe, who took over the FBI in 2017, was himself fired as deputy director in March last year just two days before he was due to retire. He was sacked by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators. Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He has now written a book on his time in the post." } ], "id": "108_4", "question": "What has the response been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Republican-controlled Congress is expected to confirm the most sweeping overhaul of the US tax system in more than three decades. The House of Representatives approved the legislation comfortably on Tuesday, but the vote is likely to be closer in the Senate. The bill looks set to mark the party's first major legislative triumph under President Donald Trump. Critics say the package is a deficit-bloating giveaway to the super-rich. But Republicans argue the tax cuts for corporations, small businesses and individuals will bolster economic growth. Tuesday saw 12 Republicans and all Democratic members of the House oppose the bill, which passed by 227 votes to 203, to loud cheers and applause from Republicans in the chamber. Speaker Paul Ryan said: \"Today we are giving the people of this country their money back. This is their money after all!\" However, the House will have to vote again on Wednesday morning for procedural reasons, ahead of the planned signing into law of the bill by Mr Trump. The bill - described by the president as a \"Christmas gift\" for the country and by Democratic congresswoman Barbara Lee as \"a slap in the face to low- and middle-income families\" - permanently cuts the tax rate for corporations from 35% to 21%. It reduces the tax share paid by the wealthiest Americans, while awarding more modest reductions for most other income brackets. Other key elements include: - Lower individual tax rates, albeit temporarily - Less inheritance tax - An expanded child tax credit - Lower taxes on overseas profits The legislation would add as much as $1.4tn (PS1tn) to the $20tn national debt over 10 years, the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation says. US tax bill: Winners and losers Senators have now begun voting on the bill, as demonstrators in the gallery attempted to disrupt proceedings, shouting: \"Kill the bill!\" US Vice-President Mike Pence has postponed a Middle East trip in case he is needed to cast a tie-breaking vote to ensure the measure clears the Senate. In the upper chamber, which Republicans control by 52-48, the party can afford to lose support from no more than two votes. On Monday, two of the last Senate Republican holdouts, Susan Collins and Mike Lee, agreed to support the legislation. Senator Jeff Flake remained undecided late on Monday. Senator John McCain, who has brain cancer, is with his family in Arizona. Another Republican senator, Bob Corker, meanwhile, denied his change of heart in favour of the bill had been motivated by a tax deduction that could benefit his real estate investments. The Tennessean had long been opposed to the tax bill because of projections it would add to the federal deficit. But on Friday Mr Corker dropped his objections as a provision was added offering a 20% deduction on certain property income. On Monday, he denied switching sides because he could benefit personally from the legislation. Aside from the tax changes that will affect most Americans, Republicans have been eager to prove they can govern after their attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act collapsed during the summer. The tax bill continues the party's attempts to dismantle the 2010 law known as Obamacare by scrapping a fine it imposes on Americans who do not buy health insurance. With an eye on next year's mid-term elections, Democrats argue that the tax package will further expand the US income gap between rich and poor. Will Trump's plans trigger a tax war?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2899, "answer_start": 1722, "text": "Senators have now begun voting on the bill, as demonstrators in the gallery attempted to disrupt proceedings, shouting: \"Kill the bill!\" US Vice-President Mike Pence has postponed a Middle East trip in case he is needed to cast a tie-breaking vote to ensure the measure clears the Senate. In the upper chamber, which Republicans control by 52-48, the party can afford to lose support from no more than two votes. On Monday, two of the last Senate Republican holdouts, Susan Collins and Mike Lee, agreed to support the legislation. Senator Jeff Flake remained undecided late on Monday. Senator John McCain, who has brain cancer, is with his family in Arizona. Another Republican senator, Bob Corker, meanwhile, denied his change of heart in favour of the bill had been motivated by a tax deduction that could benefit his real estate investments. The Tennessean had long been opposed to the tax bill because of projections it would add to the federal deficit. But on Friday Mr Corker dropped his objections as a provision was added offering a 20% deduction on certain property income. On Monday, he denied switching sides because he could benefit personally from the legislation." } ], "id": "109_0", "question": "What happens next?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3457, "answer_start": 2900, "text": "Aside from the tax changes that will affect most Americans, Republicans have been eager to prove they can govern after their attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act collapsed during the summer. The tax bill continues the party's attempts to dismantle the 2010 law known as Obamacare by scrapping a fine it imposes on Americans who do not buy health insurance. With an eye on next year's mid-term elections, Democrats argue that the tax package will further expand the US income gap between rich and poor. Will Trump's plans trigger a tax war?" } ], "id": "109_1", "question": "Why is this bill important?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a second term as India's prime minister after his party won a landslide majority in the recent election. Thousands were invited to the ceremony in Delhi, including regional leaders and Bollywood stars. But notable names were excluded, including Pakistan's PM Imran Khan, and some opposition leaders stayed away. The election was seen as a referendum on Mr Modi, 68, who is adored by many but also accused of stoking divisions. He ran a campaign dominated by his personal image and national security after tensions with Pakistan spiked in February in the disputed region of Kashmir. The ceremony is taking place at the presidential palace, a colonial-era building in the centre of the capital. A new cabinet has also been sworn in, and includes the chief of Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Shah is credited with steering the party to victory in the election, the results of which were announced last week. A BJP-led alliance won 354 seats in the 545-member lower house, known as the Lok Sabha. Mr Modi retained his seat of Varanasi by a margin of nearly half a million votes. He has become the first leader since 1971 to secure a single party majority in back-to-back elections. His government will be under pressure to deal with a slowdown in India's economy and provide more jobs. The new government suffered a blow on Wednesday when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said he was standing down for health reasons. By Zubair Ahmed, BBC World Service in Delhi The majestic presidential palace or Rashtrapati Bhawan, home to the Indian president, was the venue for the ceremony. Everyone wanted to get a glimpse of Mr Modi, who earned a massive mandate in the recent elections. Many of the over 7,000 guests had arrived early. As Mr Modi was being sworn in for a second term, his supporters rose from their seats and applauded enthusiastically. Loud cheers were also reserved for Mr Modi's friend and BJP president Amit Shah, who was credited with securing this resounding victory for the party. Foreign leaders and key opposition and regional politicians were in attendance, as were industrialists, Bollywood stars and sporting legends. Karan Johar, Rajinikanth and Kangana Ranaut were among the film stars attending, as were leaders from several neighbouring countries - including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. Pakistani leaders were not invited. Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi - who led the main opposition that lost to Mr Modi and the BJP - attended alongside his mother, Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi. State leaders, some of whom who had run against the BJP in the elections, were also invited. Local media reported that an invitation had also been extended to Bill Gates. The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, a strong critic of Mr Modi, was one of the opposition leaders who turned down the invitation. She said she would not be attending after reading \"media reports\" quoting the BJP as saying 54 people had been murdered in \"political violence\" in her state. \"This is completely untrue,\" she said in a statement. During the election campaign, West Bengal witnessed poll violence as clashes broke out between BJP supporters and those of Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party (TMC). Both parties accused each other of starting the clashes. Poll violence has been a regular feature of campaigning in West Bengal over the years. Ms Banerjee and Mr Modi regularly traded barbs on the election trail as the BJP courted voters in West Bengal. It is not surprising that Pakistani PM Imran Khan was not invited. Tensions between Pakistan and India dominated the election after more than 40 paramilitary troops were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir on 14 February. It was the deadliest attack against Indian forces in Kashmir in decades and brought the nuclear-armed powers to the brink of war.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2762, "answer_start": 2057, "text": "Foreign leaders and key opposition and regional politicians were in attendance, as were industrialists, Bollywood stars and sporting legends. Karan Johar, Rajinikanth and Kangana Ranaut were among the film stars attending, as were leaders from several neighbouring countries - including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. Pakistani leaders were not invited. Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi - who led the main opposition that lost to Mr Modi and the BJP - attended alongside his mother, Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi. State leaders, some of whom who had run against the BJP in the elections, were also invited. Local media reported that an invitation had also been extended to Bill Gates." } ], "id": "110_0", "question": "Who was on the guest list?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3898, "answer_start": 2763, "text": "The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, a strong critic of Mr Modi, was one of the opposition leaders who turned down the invitation. She said she would not be attending after reading \"media reports\" quoting the BJP as saying 54 people had been murdered in \"political violence\" in her state. \"This is completely untrue,\" she said in a statement. During the election campaign, West Bengal witnessed poll violence as clashes broke out between BJP supporters and those of Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party (TMC). Both parties accused each other of starting the clashes. Poll violence has been a regular feature of campaigning in West Bengal over the years. Ms Banerjee and Mr Modi regularly traded barbs on the election trail as the BJP courted voters in West Bengal. It is not surprising that Pakistani PM Imran Khan was not invited. Tensions between Pakistan and India dominated the election after more than 40 paramilitary troops were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir on 14 February. It was the deadliest attack against Indian forces in Kashmir in decades and brought the nuclear-armed powers to the brink of war." } ], "id": "110_1", "question": "Was there any controversy over the event?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Toronto landscaper accused of killing eight men who went missing between 2010-17 has pleaded guilty to their murders. Bruce McArthur, 67, was arrested last January and charged in the deaths of two men, and police subsequently charged him in six other cases. Most of his victims had links to Toronto's Gay Village neighbourhood. Many of the victims' remains were found in plant pots on one property in Toronto's Leaside neighbourhood. Each of the first-degree murder charges carry an automatic life sentence, meaning he will not be able to apply for release until the age of 91. His sentencing hearing will begin on 4 February, in which friends and relatives will be give impact statements, describing how the killings have affected their lives. The judge must also decide whether to sentence him to consecutive life sentences, or whether he can serve eight life sentences concurrently. In court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Michael Cantlon described how McArthur had \"staged\" and photographed the victims, keeping mementos such as jewellery and a notebook. He described all of the crimes as \"sexual in nature\", adding that there is evidence he tied the victims up during the murders. While many of the remains were buried in planters at 53 Mallory Crescent in Toronto, where McArthur worked as a gardener, others were buried in a nearby ravine. McArthur had an agreement with the home's elderly residents to store his landscaping equipment there in exchange for free lawn care, according to the authorities. Police say they found a duffle bag with duct tape, a surgical glove, rope, zip ties, a black bungee cord and syringes in his bedroom when they searched his property, according to court documents. They say that some of the victims were killed during a sexual assault or while being \"unlawfully confined\". The arrest launched a massive investigation that spanned Canada's largest city, one of the largest such investigations in the history of Toronto police. Investigators searched dozens of properties linked to the self-employed landscaper and looked into cold cases dating back decades. By Robin Levinson-King in the Toronto court In a packed courtroom, Bruce McArthur's eight guilty pleas marked the beginning of the end of a saga that has haunted Toronto's LGBT community for years. Dressed in a black cable-knit sweater and a plaid shirt, McArthur spoke softly and matter-of-factly when addressing the court, which was filled with family and friends of his victims. As the plea deal was read, they were stoic, but outside of the courtroom, many embraced with signs of relief in their eyes. For years, rumours of a serial killer stalking Toronto's Gay Village has left the city's LGBT community afraid. McArthur's conviction, and his subsequent sentencing to life in prison, will bring closure for many. But nagging questions remain: how did he get away with it for so long? Why did he do it? So far, all of the eight victims except one had ties to the city's Gay Village. Many were immigrants from South Asia or the Middle East. Members of Toronto's LGBT community have criticised police, saying they did not take their concerns about the missing men seriously. The first two alleged victims were identified in January as Andrew Kinsman, 49, and Selim Esen, 44, who both went missing in 2017. Since then, police have named Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, who disappeared on Labour Day weekend in 2010; Soroush Mahmudi, 50, reported missing in 2015; Dean Lisowick, 47, who is believed to have been killed in April 2016; Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, who disappeared in 2010; Majeed Kayhan, 58, who disappeared in 2012; and Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37, who police believe was killed in January 2016. Karen Fraser, one of the residents of the home where victims were recovered, told reporters outside the courthouse that the couple feels \"violated\" by the man they knew for more than a decade. \"What does remorse look like? I only saw a blank face,\" she said, calling him \"evil\" and a \"shuffling, broken man, as he should be\". She had previously met two of the victims, whom she did not name, at her property with McArthur. She said thinking about their last moments \"haunts her\". \"They're not just on a list or a photograph, they were people standing in front of me.\" Mrs Fraser said that in her mind, there were two Bruce McArthurs: \"Bruce A\" and \"Bruce B\". Lead Homicide Detective David Dickinson said investigators are glad for the guilty plea, which will spare victims and families a trial. An independent review has been ordered to look into how police handle missing persons cases. \"If mistakes were made we should learn from them,\" Detective Dickinson said. Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention Director Haran Vijayanathan, who has been speaking on behalf of many victims' families since McArthur's arrest, said they are grateful. \"We have closure now finally. We don't have to guess and wait and anticipate and come to court meetings and just walk away with no answers,\" he said. \"So this is really good for closure for everyone.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2097, "answer_start": 888, "text": "In court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Michael Cantlon described how McArthur had \"staged\" and photographed the victims, keeping mementos such as jewellery and a notebook. He described all of the crimes as \"sexual in nature\", adding that there is evidence he tied the victims up during the murders. While many of the remains were buried in planters at 53 Mallory Crescent in Toronto, where McArthur worked as a gardener, others were buried in a nearby ravine. McArthur had an agreement with the home's elderly residents to store his landscaping equipment there in exchange for free lawn care, according to the authorities. Police say they found a duffle bag with duct tape, a surgical glove, rope, zip ties, a black bungee cord and syringes in his bedroom when they searched his property, according to court documents. They say that some of the victims were killed during a sexual assault or while being \"unlawfully confined\". The arrest launched a massive investigation that spanned Canada's largest city, one of the largest such investigations in the history of Toronto police. Investigators searched dozens of properties linked to the self-employed landscaper and looked into cold cases dating back decades." } ], "id": "111_0", "question": "What were his crimes?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2905, "answer_start": 2098, "text": "By Robin Levinson-King in the Toronto court In a packed courtroom, Bruce McArthur's eight guilty pleas marked the beginning of the end of a saga that has haunted Toronto's LGBT community for years. Dressed in a black cable-knit sweater and a plaid shirt, McArthur spoke softly and matter-of-factly when addressing the court, which was filled with family and friends of his victims. As the plea deal was read, they were stoic, but outside of the courtroom, many embraced with signs of relief in their eyes. For years, rumours of a serial killer stalking Toronto's Gay Village has left the city's LGBT community afraid. McArthur's conviction, and his subsequent sentencing to life in prison, will bring closure for many. But nagging questions remain: how did he get away with it for so long? Why did he do it?" } ], "id": "111_1", "question": "Why?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3701, "answer_start": 2906, "text": "So far, all of the eight victims except one had ties to the city's Gay Village. Many were immigrants from South Asia or the Middle East. Members of Toronto's LGBT community have criticised police, saying they did not take their concerns about the missing men seriously. The first two alleged victims were identified in January as Andrew Kinsman, 49, and Selim Esen, 44, who both went missing in 2017. Since then, police have named Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, who disappeared on Labour Day weekend in 2010; Soroush Mahmudi, 50, reported missing in 2015; Dean Lisowick, 47, who is believed to have been killed in April 2016; Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, who disappeared in 2010; Majeed Kayhan, 58, who disappeared in 2012; and Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37, who police believe was killed in January 2016." } ], "id": "111_2", "question": "Who are the victims?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5044, "answer_start": 3702, "text": "Karen Fraser, one of the residents of the home where victims were recovered, told reporters outside the courthouse that the couple feels \"violated\" by the man they knew for more than a decade. \"What does remorse look like? I only saw a blank face,\" she said, calling him \"evil\" and a \"shuffling, broken man, as he should be\". She had previously met two of the victims, whom she did not name, at her property with McArthur. She said thinking about their last moments \"haunts her\". \"They're not just on a list or a photograph, they were people standing in front of me.\" Mrs Fraser said that in her mind, there were two Bruce McArthurs: \"Bruce A\" and \"Bruce B\". Lead Homicide Detective David Dickinson said investigators are glad for the guilty plea, which will spare victims and families a trial. An independent review has been ordered to look into how police handle missing persons cases. \"If mistakes were made we should learn from them,\" Detective Dickinson said. Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention Director Haran Vijayanathan, who has been speaking on behalf of many victims' families since McArthur's arrest, said they are grateful. \"We have closure now finally. We don't have to guess and wait and anticipate and come to court meetings and just walk away with no answers,\" he said. \"So this is really good for closure for everyone.\"" } ], "id": "111_3", "question": "What's the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "French and British fishermen have clashed in the English Channel in an escalating battle over scallops. About 40 French boats tried to stop five larger British boats from fishing 12 nautical miles (22km) off the Normandy coast, in the Bay of Seine. Fishing boats collided and stones were thrown, but no-one was injured. UK boats are entitled to fish in the scallop-rich area, but their presence has angered the French, who accuse the British of depleting shellfish stocks. Now UK fishermen are demanding government protection, while the French bewail the loss of a \"primary resource\". The French boats gathered overnight on Monday in protest against so-called British \"pillaging\". \"The French went to contact the British to stop them working and they clashed with each other,\" said Dimitri Rogoff, who heads the Normandy fishing committee. The British were unable to match the local flotilla for numbers and were ultimately chased away. Two British boats, Golden Promise and Joanna C, returned to Brixham harbour with damaged windows. The crews alleged they had been were surrounded and had rocks and metal shackles thrown at them. A video on French media showed a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne 3, colliding with French vessels. A French local government spokesperson, Ingrid Parrot, said: \"Things were thrown on both sides - from the English and from the French. Both parties were extremely tense.\" Tension has rumbled for 15 years, but in the past five years a deal has prevailed - larger British boats stayed out of the area in exchange for more fishing rights. British boats can gather scallops year-round, but French law restricts the scallop fishing season to between 1 October and 15 May. \"For the Brits, it's an open bar - they fish when they want, where they want, and as much as they want,\" Mr Rogoff complained. \"We don't want to stop them from fishing, but they could at least wait until 1 October so that we can share. \"Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a primary resource and a highly sensitive issue.\" Mike Park, chief executive of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, described the clashing incident as \"clear piracy\". Speaking about the Scottish boat, he told BBC Scotland: \"He's fully entitled to be there. UK vessels can enter that French zone, it's not illegal. \"The Peterhead vessel is going about its business. The French vessels are probably attacking it.\" Appeals for calm were issued by Britain's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, which said some boats had been filmed manoeuvring dangerously. \"We have raised the matter with the British government and asked for protection for our vessels, which are fishing legitimately,\" its chief executive, Barrie Deas, said. \"The deeper issues behind the clashes should be settled by talking around the table, not on the high seas where people could be hurt.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1411, "answer_start": 585, "text": "The French boats gathered overnight on Monday in protest against so-called British \"pillaging\". \"The French went to contact the British to stop them working and they clashed with each other,\" said Dimitri Rogoff, who heads the Normandy fishing committee. The British were unable to match the local flotilla for numbers and were ultimately chased away. Two British boats, Golden Promise and Joanna C, returned to Brixham harbour with damaged windows. The crews alleged they had been were surrounded and had rocks and metal shackles thrown at them. A video on French media showed a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne 3, colliding with French vessels. A French local government spokesperson, Ingrid Parrot, said: \"Things were thrown on both sides - from the English and from the French. Both parties were extremely tense.\"" } ], "id": "112_0", "question": "What exactly happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2040, "answer_start": 1412, "text": "Tension has rumbled for 15 years, but in the past five years a deal has prevailed - larger British boats stayed out of the area in exchange for more fishing rights. British boats can gather scallops year-round, but French law restricts the scallop fishing season to between 1 October and 15 May. \"For the Brits, it's an open bar - they fish when they want, where they want, and as much as they want,\" Mr Rogoff complained. \"We don't want to stop them from fishing, but they could at least wait until 1 October so that we can share. \"Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a primary resource and a highly sensitive issue.\"" } ], "id": "112_1", "question": "Why has it all blown up now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A photo of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confronting the President Donald Trump at a reportedly explosive White House meeting has become a symbol of the deep divisions in Washington. In the image, leading Democrat Ms Pelosi is standing up at a large table, surrounded by male congressional leaders and top military officials, pointing her finger towards the president, who is seated opposite her and appears stunned. Afterwards, Mr Trump took to his preferred social media platform, Twitter, to share the photo along with the caption: \"Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown\". Ms Pelosi - who has said it was Mr Trump that had the \"meltdown\" - hit back by proudly making the image her cover photo on both Twitter and Facebook. The original tweet by Mr Trump has now been shared more than 24,000 times on Twitter, with scores of people weighing in on what it says about the two top US politicians. It has spurred debates on everything from gender inequality in politics, to who would be the better president, but at its core are the disagreements over one of the most divisive political issues of the moment. The Wednesday meeting was held to discuss the situation in northern Syria, where Turkey launched an offensive last week against Kurdish-led forces after the US suddenly withdrew its troops. Just before the meeting, the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to condemn the troop withdrawal. A Democratic source told the Associated Press news agency that the meeting began with Mr Trump bragging about a \"nasty\" letter he had sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ms Pelosi is then said to have mentioned the House vote and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer began to read the president a quote from former Defence Secretary James Mattis on the need to keep US troops in Syria to prevent a resurgence of the so-called Islamic State group, known as IS or Isis. According to US media, Mr Trump cut Mr Schumer off, complaining that Mr Mattis was \"the world's most overrated general\". As the meeting went on, the president is said to have told Ms Pelosi: \"I hate Isis more than you do.\" When asked by Mr Schumer if his plan was to rely on the Syrians and the Turks, the president said the plan was \"to keep the American people safe\". Ms Pelosi reportedly told him that this was a goal, not a plan. Mr Schumer has said the president then called Ms Pelosi a \"third-rate\" politician. (She later said it was \"third-grade\".) At that point, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer reportedly interjected, telling the president that such insults were \"not useful\". The Democratic leaders then left the meeting early. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Ms Pelosi described it as \"most unsatisfactory\". \"Two-to-one, the Republicans voted to oppose what he was doing in Syria. He just couldn't handle it so he just kind of engaged in a meltdown,\" she said. Mr Schumer said the president had been \"insulting, particularly to the speaker\". It was later that Mr Trump took to Twitter with a series of photos from the meeting, including the one of Ms Pelosi standing and pointing. In a final photo, showing three empty seats following the walk-out, he labelled Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer the \"Do Nothing Democrats\". He then said Ms Pelosi \"needs help fast\". \"She had a total meltdown in the White House today. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person,\" he wrote. As the photo went viral, some used the hashtag #BeNancy, urging people to take inspiration from the House speaker, while others siding with the president tweeted #PelosiMeltdown. Why is Turkey bombing the Kurds in Syria?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2618, "answer_start": 1404, "text": "A Democratic source told the Associated Press news agency that the meeting began with Mr Trump bragging about a \"nasty\" letter he had sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ms Pelosi is then said to have mentioned the House vote and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer began to read the president a quote from former Defence Secretary James Mattis on the need to keep US troops in Syria to prevent a resurgence of the so-called Islamic State group, known as IS or Isis. According to US media, Mr Trump cut Mr Schumer off, complaining that Mr Mattis was \"the world's most overrated general\". As the meeting went on, the president is said to have told Ms Pelosi: \"I hate Isis more than you do.\" When asked by Mr Schumer if his plan was to rely on the Syrians and the Turks, the president said the plan was \"to keep the American people safe\". Ms Pelosi reportedly told him that this was a goal, not a plan. Mr Schumer has said the president then called Ms Pelosi a \"third-rate\" politician. (She later said it was \"third-grade\".) At that point, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer reportedly interjected, telling the president that such insults were \"not useful\". The Democratic leaders then left the meeting early." } ], "id": "113_0", "question": "What was said around that table?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3570, "answer_start": 2619, "text": "Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Ms Pelosi described it as \"most unsatisfactory\". \"Two-to-one, the Republicans voted to oppose what he was doing in Syria. He just couldn't handle it so he just kind of engaged in a meltdown,\" she said. Mr Schumer said the president had been \"insulting, particularly to the speaker\". It was later that Mr Trump took to Twitter with a series of photos from the meeting, including the one of Ms Pelosi standing and pointing. In a final photo, showing three empty seats following the walk-out, he labelled Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer the \"Do Nothing Democrats\". He then said Ms Pelosi \"needs help fast\". \"She had a total meltdown in the White House today. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person,\" he wrote. As the photo went viral, some used the hashtag #BeNancy, urging people to take inspiration from the House speaker, while others siding with the president tweeted #PelosiMeltdown." } ], "id": "113_1", "question": "What happened afterwards?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Lenin Moreno has imposed a night curfew near government buildings after protesters clashed with security forces inside Ecuador's heavily guarded parliament. Demonstrators briefly burst through a police cordon before being driven back with tear gas, witnesses said. Mr Moreno declared a state of emergency last week but has failed to end protests led by indigenous groups. They are demanding an end to austerity and the return of fuel subsidies. Petrol prices have soared by more than 100% since last Thursday when the subsidies were removed. The unrest has forced President Lenin Moreno to move the government out of the capital. Indigenous-led protests have toppled three presidents in the past few decades. Amid the worst unrest in years, the embattled government has said it is open to mediation through the United Nations or the Roman Catholic Church. Witnesses said protesters, some of whom were carrying wooden shields, broke through a security cordon around the National Assembly building on Tuesday. Once inside they waved flags and chanted slogans before being forced back by security forces using tear gas. No staff were in the building at the time. Other government buildings in the capital were also attacked and damaged, local media reported. Across Ecuador, two people have died in the recent disturbances and dozens more have been injured. Later on Tuesday, Mr Moreno declared a curfew restricting movement near government buildings between 20:00 and 05:00 in a bid to quell the unrest. The president has refused to resign, reportedly telling broadcaster Teleamazonas \"under no circumstance\" would he quit. \"I don't see why I should if I'm making the right decisions,\" he reportedly said. President Moreno had earlier announced that he had temporarily moved government operations from the capital to the port city of Guayaquil. Mr Moreno's announcement last week of an end to subsidies that had been holding down fuel prices triggered a strike by transport unions. The unions later stopped their action, but protests have continued. Indigenous demonstrators have blocked roads and highways in the country and thousands have travelled to the capital Quito for bigger protests. Some of the road blockages have affected petrol deliveries, leading to fuel shortages in parts of the country. Officials said on Tuesday that the number of arrests had risen to 570. Mr Moreno has declared a two-month national emergency over the unrest. Mr Moreno said the subsidies, which cost the government $1.3bn (PS1bn) annually, were no longer affordable. The elimination of the subsidies, introduced in the 1970s, are part of his plan to shore up Ecuador's flagging economy and ease its debt burden. The government has agreed to cut public spending as part of a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The agreement, signed in March, allows Ecuador to borrow $4.2bn (PS3.4bn).", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1852, "answer_start": 866, "text": "Witnesses said protesters, some of whom were carrying wooden shields, broke through a security cordon around the National Assembly building on Tuesday. Once inside they waved flags and chanted slogans before being forced back by security forces using tear gas. No staff were in the building at the time. Other government buildings in the capital were also attacked and damaged, local media reported. Across Ecuador, two people have died in the recent disturbances and dozens more have been injured. Later on Tuesday, Mr Moreno declared a curfew restricting movement near government buildings between 20:00 and 05:00 in a bid to quell the unrest. The president has refused to resign, reportedly telling broadcaster Teleamazonas \"under no circumstance\" would he quit. \"I don't see why I should if I'm making the right decisions,\" he reportedly said. President Moreno had earlier announced that he had temporarily moved government operations from the capital to the port city of Guayaquil." } ], "id": "114_0", "question": "What's the latest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2453, "answer_start": 1853, "text": "Mr Moreno's announcement last week of an end to subsidies that had been holding down fuel prices triggered a strike by transport unions. The unions later stopped their action, but protests have continued. Indigenous demonstrators have blocked roads and highways in the country and thousands have travelled to the capital Quito for bigger protests. Some of the road blockages have affected petrol deliveries, leading to fuel shortages in parts of the country. Officials said on Tuesday that the number of arrests had risen to 570. Mr Moreno has declared a two-month national emergency over the unrest." } ], "id": "114_1", "question": "What has led to the trouble?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2897, "answer_start": 2454, "text": "Mr Moreno said the subsidies, which cost the government $1.3bn (PS1bn) annually, were no longer affordable. The elimination of the subsidies, introduced in the 1970s, are part of his plan to shore up Ecuador's flagging economy and ease its debt burden. The government has agreed to cut public spending as part of a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The agreement, signed in March, allows Ecuador to borrow $4.2bn (PS3.4bn)." } ], "id": "114_2", "question": "Why were fuel subsidies scrapped?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US senators have passed a sweeping tax cuts bill, paving the way for Donald Trump's first big legislative victory. The package would mark the biggest tax overhaul since the 1980s. It was passed by 51 votes to 49, after a series of amendments in a marathon session. Democrats complained it only benefited the wealthy and big business. The plan sees a sharp cut in corporation tax, but a Senate committee finding has warned it would add $1tn (PS742bn) to the budget deficit. President Trump wants the measures enacted by the end of the year and he congratulated Republicans for taking the US \"one step closer to delivering massive tax cuts for working families\". The Senate will now have to merge its legislation with that passed last month by the House of Representatives, before it can be signed into law by the president. On Saturday, a triumphant Mr Trump told supporters at a New York fundraiser: \"So last night we passed in the history of the country, the largest tax cuts and reform... what we're doing is, if you look at it, we're going to grow the country, we're going to grow jobs. We're going to be growing everything.\" The move is as a major victory for Mr Trump, who since taking office has struggled to get major legislative movement in Congress - including fulfilling his vow to repeal and replace Obamacare. His presidency has also been dogged by an independent investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 US election and possible collusion with his campaign team. On Friday, ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn became the Trump administration's most senior member to be charged in the investigation. Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The US Senate, a seemingly insurmountable roadblock for the Republican agenda for much of this year, has at last given its assent to a major piece of legislation. Perhaps unsurprisingly it was sweeping tax cuts - always beloved by conservatives - that finally brought the party together and gave President Donald Trump the opportunity to claim a landmark legislative achievement. It wasn't always pretty. Senate negotiators were handwriting amendments to the massive bill practically up until the final votes were taken. Deals within deals were cut to satisfy recalcitrant legislators. Democrats howled at the permanent cuts provided to corporations, while middle-class taxpayer benefits had sunset clauses. In the end, however, a combination of hope and fear were enough to drag a slim majority into the yes column. The hope is that a booming economy will give Republicans a chance to run on their tax policy when they stand before voters next November. The fear was that yet another failure would have led to a revolt among the party's big donors and traditional business constituencies. The House and Senate must now smooth out differences in their bills and vote on the compromise. It's not the end of the race, but the finish line is in sight. Presiding over the Senate, Vice-President Mike Pence declared the 51-49 victory to applause from Republicans in the early hours of Saturday morning. The final draft of the bill went through several changes in order to bring reluctant Republicans on board. Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the Senate. Random tax provisions you may have missed Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the corporate tax rate would be permanently lowered from 35% to 20%, while future foreign profits of US-based firms would be mainly exempt from tax. The measures were passed despite the non-partisan Senate Joint Committee on Taxation warning on Thursday that the bill would add significantly to the federal deficit over a decade. The committee's findings contradicted a White House claim that economic growth would compensate for the tax cuts. Most Americans across all income levels would see modest tax breaks until 2026 and the committee said after that families earning under $75,000 a year would likely face higher taxes. Some opponents highlighted a measure that would end a requirement introduced under Obamacare for most taxpayers to buy health insurance or face a fine. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, scrapping the mandate would push up insurance premiums and lead to 13 million people losing cover by 2027. There were some last minute changes, including a $10,000 property tax deduction as requested by Senator Susan Collins, one of the Republicans who had been reluctant to back the bill. After the vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his opponents would pay the price at the ballot box in mid-term elections next year. \"My Republican friends will ultimately pay consequences for this bill in 2018 and beyond. The Republican party will never again be the party of tax cuts for middle-class people,\" he warned. He said the measures would endanger social security and medical provision. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders was among the most vocal critics, declaring during the debate that the American treasury was \"being looted\". But Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who succeeded in bringing dissenting party members into line, said the legislation would prove to be \"just what the country needs to get growing again\". He brushed aside complaints that it was pushed through without proper scrutiny, saying: \"Everybody had plenty of opportunity to see the measure. You complain about process when you're losing and that's what you heard on the floor tonight.\" Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also praised the bill, saying \"working families and middle-income families across the nation will be better off\". Democrats were angry about the last-minute revisions, complaining that they had not been given enough time to digest the nearly 500-page document, with handwritten changes to the legislation. The only Republican senator who refused to back the legislation was Bob Corker. \"I am not able to cast aside my fiscal concerns and vote for legislation that... could deepen the debt burden on future generations,\" he said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2932, "answer_start": 1636, "text": "Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The US Senate, a seemingly insurmountable roadblock for the Republican agenda for much of this year, has at last given its assent to a major piece of legislation. Perhaps unsurprisingly it was sweeping tax cuts - always beloved by conservatives - that finally brought the party together and gave President Donald Trump the opportunity to claim a landmark legislative achievement. It wasn't always pretty. Senate negotiators were handwriting amendments to the massive bill practically up until the final votes were taken. Deals within deals were cut to satisfy recalcitrant legislators. Democrats howled at the permanent cuts provided to corporations, while middle-class taxpayer benefits had sunset clauses. In the end, however, a combination of hope and fear were enough to drag a slim majority into the yes column. The hope is that a booming economy will give Republicans a chance to run on their tax policy when they stand before voters next November. The fear was that yet another failure would have led to a revolt among the party's big donors and traditional business constituencies. The House and Senate must now smooth out differences in their bills and vote on the compromise. It's not the end of the race, but the finish line is in sight." } ], "id": "115_0", "question": "How did we get here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4440, "answer_start": 2933, "text": "Presiding over the Senate, Vice-President Mike Pence declared the 51-49 victory to applause from Republicans in the early hours of Saturday morning. The final draft of the bill went through several changes in order to bring reluctant Republicans on board. Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the Senate. Random tax provisions you may have missed Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the corporate tax rate would be permanently lowered from 35% to 20%, while future foreign profits of US-based firms would be mainly exempt from tax. The measures were passed despite the non-partisan Senate Joint Committee on Taxation warning on Thursday that the bill would add significantly to the federal deficit over a decade. The committee's findings contradicted a White House claim that economic growth would compensate for the tax cuts. Most Americans across all income levels would see modest tax breaks until 2026 and the committee said after that families earning under $75,000 a year would likely face higher taxes. Some opponents highlighted a measure that would end a requirement introduced under Obamacare for most taxpayers to buy health insurance or face a fine. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, scrapping the mandate would push up insurance premiums and lead to 13 million people losing cover by 2027. There were some last minute changes, including a $10,000 property tax deduction as requested by Senator Susan Collins, one of the Republicans who had been reluctant to back the bill." } ], "id": "115_1", "question": "What's in the new tax bill?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6003, "answer_start": 4441, "text": "After the vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his opponents would pay the price at the ballot box in mid-term elections next year. \"My Republican friends will ultimately pay consequences for this bill in 2018 and beyond. The Republican party will never again be the party of tax cuts for middle-class people,\" he warned. He said the measures would endanger social security and medical provision. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders was among the most vocal critics, declaring during the debate that the American treasury was \"being looted\". But Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who succeeded in bringing dissenting party members into line, said the legislation would prove to be \"just what the country needs to get growing again\". He brushed aside complaints that it was pushed through without proper scrutiny, saying: \"Everybody had plenty of opportunity to see the measure. You complain about process when you're losing and that's what you heard on the floor tonight.\" Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also praised the bill, saying \"working families and middle-income families across the nation will be better off\". Democrats were angry about the last-minute revisions, complaining that they had not been given enough time to digest the nearly 500-page document, with handwritten changes to the legislation. The only Republican senator who refused to back the legislation was Bob Corker. \"I am not able to cast aside my fiscal concerns and vote for legislation that... could deepen the debt burden on future generations,\" he said." } ], "id": "115_2", "question": "How did senators react?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders supporting two controversial oil pipelines, Keystone XL and Dakota Access. Keystone XL has been at the centre of the controversy. A planned 1,179-mile (1,897km) pipeline running from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska, where it would join an existing pipe. It could carry 830,000 barrels of oil each day. It would mirror an operational pipe, also called Keystone, but would take a more direct route, boosting the flow of oil from Canada. A section running south from Cushing in Oklahoma to the Gulf opened in January 2014. At the coast there are additional refineries and ports from which the oil can be exported. The pipeline would be privately financed, with the cost of construction shared between TransCanada, an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, and other oil shippers. US-produced oil would also be transported by Keystone XL, albeit in smaller quantities than Canadian. Canada already sends 550,000 barrels of oil per day to the US via the existing Keystone Pipeline. The oil fields in Alberta are landlocked and as they are further developed require means of access to international markets. Many of North America's oil refineries are based in the Gulf Coast, and industry groups on both sides of the border want to benefit. An increased supply of oil from Canada would mean a decreased dependency on Middle Eastern supplies. According to market principles, increased availability of oil means lower prices for consumers. Mr Trump said the project would create 28,000 construction jobs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he will work with the new US leader regarding the pipeline, and that he was \"confident that the right decisions\" would be taken. The Canadian National Energy Board approved the pipeline in March 2010 but Mr Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, did not issue the presidential permit required in the US. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised him not to approve the pipeline. Mr Obama said the project would not: - lower petrol prices - create long-term jobs - affect energy dependence Donald Trump issued the permits within days of taking office, stipulating only that American steel be used in the work. \"We build it in the United States, we build the pipelines, we want to build the pipe,\" he said. \"It's going to put a lot of workers, a lot of steelworkers back to work.\" Even back in 2011, the US state department appeared confused about the issue. After first saying XL would not have significant adverse effects on the environment, it advised TransCanada to explore alternative routes in Nebraska because the Sandhills region was a fragile ecosystem. Beyond the risks of spillage, the pipeline means a commitment to develop Alberta's oil sands. Despite the recent push to find renewable sources of energy and move away from fossil fuels, the amount of oil produced in northern Alberta is projected to double by 2030. It's argued by some that by developing the oil sands, fossil fuels will be readily available and the trend toward warming of the atmosphere won't be curbed. The fate of the pipeline is therefore held up as symbolic of America's energy future. In the here and now, more energy is required to extract oil from the Alberta oil sands than in traditional drilling, and Environment Canada says it has found industry chemicals seeping into ground water and the Athabasca River. This risk to local communities is one of the reasons many have opposed the project. First Nations groups in Northern Alberta have even gone so far as to sue the provincial and federal government for damages from 15 years of oil sands development they were not consulted on, including treaty-guaranteed rights to hunt, trap and fish on traditional lands.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 962, "answer_start": 184, "text": "A planned 1,179-mile (1,897km) pipeline running from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska, where it would join an existing pipe. It could carry 830,000 barrels of oil each day. It would mirror an operational pipe, also called Keystone, but would take a more direct route, boosting the flow of oil from Canada. A section running south from Cushing in Oklahoma to the Gulf opened in January 2014. At the coast there are additional refineries and ports from which the oil can be exported. The pipeline would be privately financed, with the cost of construction shared between TransCanada, an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, and other oil shippers. US-produced oil would also be transported by Keystone XL, albeit in smaller quantities than Canadian." } ], "id": "116_0", "question": "What is Keystone XL?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1757, "answer_start": 963, "text": "Canada already sends 550,000 barrels of oil per day to the US via the existing Keystone Pipeline. The oil fields in Alberta are landlocked and as they are further developed require means of access to international markets. Many of North America's oil refineries are based in the Gulf Coast, and industry groups on both sides of the border want to benefit. An increased supply of oil from Canada would mean a decreased dependency on Middle Eastern supplies. According to market principles, increased availability of oil means lower prices for consumers. Mr Trump said the project would create 28,000 construction jobs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he will work with the new US leader regarding the pipeline, and that he was \"confident that the right decisions\" would be taken." } ], "id": "116_1", "question": "Why do the US and Canada want XL?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3784, "answer_start": 2412, "text": "Even back in 2011, the US state department appeared confused about the issue. After first saying XL would not have significant adverse effects on the environment, it advised TransCanada to explore alternative routes in Nebraska because the Sandhills region was a fragile ecosystem. Beyond the risks of spillage, the pipeline means a commitment to develop Alberta's oil sands. Despite the recent push to find renewable sources of energy and move away from fossil fuels, the amount of oil produced in northern Alberta is projected to double by 2030. It's argued by some that by developing the oil sands, fossil fuels will be readily available and the trend toward warming of the atmosphere won't be curbed. The fate of the pipeline is therefore held up as symbolic of America's energy future. In the here and now, more energy is required to extract oil from the Alberta oil sands than in traditional drilling, and Environment Canada says it has found industry chemicals seeping into ground water and the Athabasca River. This risk to local communities is one of the reasons many have opposed the project. First Nations groups in Northern Alberta have even gone so far as to sue the provincial and federal government for damages from 15 years of oil sands development they were not consulted on, including treaty-guaranteed rights to hunt, trap and fish on traditional lands." } ], "id": "116_2", "question": "Why so much opposition?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than 200 Australians have been flown back home after 14 days in quarantine on remote Christmas Island amid coronavirus fears. They were evacuated from China's Hubei province - the epicentre of the deadly outbreak - on 3 February. With no cases reported during the minimum required time, they were taken to six cities across Australia. Many of the returnees, including children, expressed relief, saying they were happy to be finally home. More than 70,600 people across China have been infected by the virus, with 1,771 deaths. Most new cases and deaths in the past 24 hours have been reported in Wuhan, Hubei's largest city. More than two dozen countries around the world have confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. Australia is among them with 15 cases. Outside mainland China, five deaths have been reported - in France, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. The virus, which causes acute respiratory disease, has been named Covid-19. The Australian citizens and permanent residents, including dozens of children, arrived back home on Monday evening. \"I'm really glad we will be able to go home now. I feel really lucky,\" Catherine Chen, who landed in Perth, was quoted as saying by Australian broadcaster ABC. Ms Chen, who runs a childcare centre in Western Australia, had been separated from her husband for a month after travelling with her two children to Hubei. Meanwhile, Mel Pleno arrived back in Sydney with his wife and three children. \"We're very grateful for the Australian government and their response to the situation, and chartering a plane for my family to come back,\" Mr Pleno said, quoted by Australia's 7 News. None of the returnees will be required to take any further tests. The remote island is an Australian external territory, about 2,700km (1,680 miles) from the mainland, and is best known for its immigration detention centre. Since 2003, thousands of asylum seekers have been detained there under Australia's hardline refugee policy. Evacuees had previously expressed concern about the plan, and some have chosen to stay in Wuhan. The Christmas Island facility was closed in 2018 but re-opened the following year. Critics had earlier questioned the state of medical facilities on the island, and the holding of citizens in an immigration detention centre.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2300, "answer_start": 1713, "text": "The remote island is an Australian external territory, about 2,700km (1,680 miles) from the mainland, and is best known for its immigration detention centre. Since 2003, thousands of asylum seekers have been detained there under Australia's hardline refugee policy. Evacuees had previously expressed concern about the plan, and some have chosen to stay in Wuhan. The Christmas Island facility was closed in 2018 but re-opened the following year. Critics had earlier questioned the state of medical facilities on the island, and the holding of citizens in an immigration detention centre." } ], "id": "117_0", "question": "What is Christmas Island?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The parents of a Spanish banker who was killed confronting terrorists during the London Bridge attack have accepted a civilian medal on his behalf. Wielding only his skateboard, Ignacio Echeverria, 39, tried to fight off one of the terrorists who killed eight people on 3 June last year. His parents were presented with the George Medal during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Two police officers also received the same award for their actions. At the ceremony his father Joaquin Echeverria Alonso said it was a \"special moment but very emotional\" for him and his wife Miralles De Imperial Hornedo. He said the award helped \"recognise the courage of my son\". \"Since Ignacio's death we have lived a year of intense emotions,\" he said. \"There has been pain and love and I have reflected on the meaning of duty and commitment. \"I have been compelled to think about what really matters and what is worth taking risks and fighting for; life, freedom, dignity, for oneself and for others.\" Mr Echeverria Alonso said his son was \"committed to helping others\" and his bravery on the day was not just a spur of the moment decision. He told the BBC that Ignacio had said he would have intervened if he had been passing the Westminster Bridge attack which happened three months earlier. \"Ignacio told us that if he had have been skateboarding past on that occasion then the police officer would have survived, because he would have tried to help. \"Later, during the attack at London Bridge, he demonstrated this through his actions.\" Three men drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before launching a knife attack in Borough Market last year. They killed eight people. Mr Alonso said: \"When terrorists attack someone they attack our entire way of life. \"They manipulate words and minds and try and convince us that they have acted in the name of a cause. \"So when Ignacio is recognised with an award, it represents the opposite of all of that.\" He said he was grateful to be receiving the George Medal on his son's behalf because it showed the UK considered his actions to be \"important\". PC Charles Guenigault and PC Wayne Marques were also given the bravery award. PC Leon McLeod was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for running at the terrorists and then providing aid to victims following the attack. The award was created in September 1940 under the reign of King George VI, initially to reward acts of civilian courage and bravery during the Blitz. Since then it has been awarded more than 2,000 times, and some military personnel have received it for \"gallant conduct that is not in the face of the enemy\". Posthumous recipients of the medal include PC Keith Palmer, who was fatally stabbed outside the Houses of Parliament in March 2017 during the Westminster terror attack.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2794, "answer_start": 2317, "text": "The award was created in September 1940 under the reign of King George VI, initially to reward acts of civilian courage and bravery during the Blitz. Since then it has been awarded more than 2,000 times, and some military personnel have received it for \"gallant conduct that is not in the face of the enemy\". Posthumous recipients of the medal include PC Keith Palmer, who was fatally stabbed outside the Houses of Parliament in March 2017 during the Westminster terror attack." } ], "id": "118_0", "question": "What is the George Medal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "\"If they knew I was talking to you, I'd be killed,\" says Mohamed. Young and a fluent English speaker, he comes from the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of so-called Islamic State. The threat posed by the group is one of the main factors pushing the mass migration of people to Europe. And as we sit beside the stadium in Edirne where 2,000 have gathered, trying to cross Turkey's land border with Greece, he gives me an insight into the heart of the \"caliphate\". \"At first when they arrived, it seemed fine because [Syrian President] Assad's forces were driven out,\" Mohamed says. \"But then they tightened their control. They imposed their rules: anybody who defied them, anyone who was suspected of talking to journalists or TV channels was immediately taken off to be killed. \"They have a big intelligence network - foreigners working for them, who inform them about everything. I've seen Germans, Chechens, Turks, Saudis and Tunisians. They're the ones who catch you.\" What changes has he seen during the IS takeover, I ask? \"Until a few months ago we had internet at home. Now we have to go to internet cafes to go online - and they come and check which sites we've visited. \"We only have two hours of electricity per day. There's talk that they'll remove satellite dishes from houses so we can only watch TV they control. \"And food prices are going up. We're banned from smoking - I was caught twice with a cigarette, put in prison for a day and given 20 lashes. \"Men are not allowed to be clean-shaven - anyone who is, will be put in prison.\" The IS black flag now flies across Raqqa and every official building has \"Islamic State\" painted on the walls, Mohamed tells me. How are the militants recognised? \"They carry guns - all the time.\" - Beheadings, crucifixions and mass shootings - What is Islamic State? - Exclusive footage - inside IS stronghold - 'Taking their future into their own hands' - The BBC's Lyse Doucet on why migrant crisis is erupting now \"When you look at the faces of our citizens, they have fear in their eyes,\" he tells me. \"Everyone is afraid that one wrong word will put them in prison or worse. We all love Islam - but this is not Islam. \"Now even people say they want Assad to come back. Both are evil - but this is worse.\" Mohamed is desperate to cross safely into Europe, unable to pay the $2,000 (PS1,300) demanded by smugglers for the boat trip to the Greek islands and unwilling to risk his life. But as the EU progresses with plans to redistribute 120,000 asylum seekers, the reality is that he will not be among them. The number only includes those already in the bloc, in Italy or Germany - not those knocking at Europe's door here in Turkey. They will be encouraged to stay. But Mohamed refuses. \"Here I cannot make a decent life for myself. I earn so little money, they don't want me here,\" he says. \"If I cannot get to Europe, I will go back to Raqqa. \"There, I will live like I have a clamp to my throat - but at least I'll have my family.\" It is that natural human inclination - the need for safety - that is driving this mass migration. And as Islamic State broadens its control and continues its rampage, those like Mohamed subjected to it will pursue the path to the refuge they crave.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3248, "answer_start": 2271, "text": "Mohamed is desperate to cross safely into Europe, unable to pay the $2,000 (PS1,300) demanded by smugglers for the boat trip to the Greek islands and unwilling to risk his life. But as the EU progresses with plans to redistribute 120,000 asylum seekers, the reality is that he will not be among them. The number only includes those already in the bloc, in Italy or Germany - not those knocking at Europe's door here in Turkey. They will be encouraged to stay. But Mohamed refuses. \"Here I cannot make a decent life for myself. I earn so little money, they don't want me here,\" he says. \"If I cannot get to Europe, I will go back to Raqqa. \"There, I will live like I have a clamp to my throat - but at least I'll have my family.\" It is that natural human inclination - the need for safety - that is driving this mass migration. And as Islamic State broadens its control and continues its rampage, those like Mohamed subjected to it will pursue the path to the refuge they crave." } ], "id": "119_0", "question": "Back to Raqqa?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Bombardier puts its new CSeries planes on display in Paris in the hope of securing new orders. The aircraft are making their debut at the Paris Air Show. Northern Ireland economy minister Jonathan Bell has travelled to the French capital, along with representatives of local aerospace companies, aiming to land business at the trade show. But what is the CSeries and what is at stake for Bombardier's Belfast operation? Bombardier has long made business jets, but this is its first move into larger passenger planes and a market dominated by the big two: Boeing and Airbus. There are two versions. The CS100 and the CS300 with seat capacity of between 100-160. The smaller CS100 costs $63m (PS40.4m) and the CS300 has a $72m (PS46m) list price. Is it made in Belfast? Only the wings are - at a specially constructed factory at Queen's Island. Costing PS520m, it represents the biggest inward investment project ever in Northern Ireland. Bombardier has said that when CSeries goes into full production, it will support 800 jobs in Belfast. Currently, the Canadian company employs 5,700 staff locally. It is the world's largest trade show. It happens bi-annually, attracting buyers from the major airlines. Bombardier badly needs to generate interest. It currently has 243 firm orders, short of the 300 target it set for when the plane goes into service early next year. Only one buyer ranks among the world's top 20 airlines by passenger traffic. It has been nine months since the last order, causing concern among shareholders. The big selling point of the CSeries is its fuel economy due to its innovative carbon-fibre wings which make it significantly lighter. But analysts say it is no coincidence that there have been no orders since the price of oil tumbled. But there are other issues. The aircraft has been delayed by three years and is $2bn (PS1.2bn) over budget. It is due to obtain certification later this year. Meanwhile, one of Bombardier's competitors, Airbus, has been discounting the price of a similar-sized aircraft, the A320. CSeries has made it a very challenging year for Bombardier. There has been an overhaul in its top management team and even speculation that the commercial aircraft division may be put up for sale. CSeries is bleeding money with knock-on consequences. Production of smaller Bombardier jets has been cut back or even suspended, causing jobs to be lost. Around 800 jobs in Belfast have gone within the past year, mostly among its contractor labour force.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1099, "answer_start": 420, "text": "Bombardier has long made business jets, but this is its first move into larger passenger planes and a market dominated by the big two: Boeing and Airbus. There are two versions. The CS100 and the CS300 with seat capacity of between 100-160. The smaller CS100 costs $63m (PS40.4m) and the CS300 has a $72m (PS46m) list price. Is it made in Belfast? Only the wings are - at a specially constructed factory at Queen's Island. Costing PS520m, it represents the biggest inward investment project ever in Northern Ireland. Bombardier has said that when CSeries goes into full production, it will support 800 jobs in Belfast. Currently, the Canadian company employs 5,700 staff locally." } ], "id": "120_0", "question": "What is CSeries?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1527, "answer_start": 1100, "text": "It is the world's largest trade show. It happens bi-annually, attracting buyers from the major airlines. Bombardier badly needs to generate interest. It currently has 243 firm orders, short of the 300 target it set for when the plane goes into service early next year. Only one buyer ranks among the world's top 20 airlines by passenger traffic. It has been nine months since the last order, causing concern among shareholders." } ], "id": "120_1", "question": "Why is the Paris Air Show important?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2044, "answer_start": 1528, "text": "The big selling point of the CSeries is its fuel economy due to its innovative carbon-fibre wings which make it significantly lighter. But analysts say it is no coincidence that there have been no orders since the price of oil tumbled. But there are other issues. The aircraft has been delayed by three years and is $2bn (PS1.2bn) over budget. It is due to obtain certification later this year. Meanwhile, one of Bombardier's competitors, Airbus, has been discounting the price of a similar-sized aircraft, the A320." } ], "id": "120_2", "question": "Why is that?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2496, "answer_start": 2045, "text": "CSeries has made it a very challenging year for Bombardier. There has been an overhaul in its top management team and even speculation that the commercial aircraft division may be put up for sale. CSeries is bleeding money with knock-on consequences. Production of smaller Bombardier jets has been cut back or even suspended, causing jobs to be lost. Around 800 jobs in Belfast have gone within the past year, mostly among its contractor labour force." } ], "id": "120_3", "question": "What is at stake?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Fox's proposed acquisition of Sky is not in the public interest, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally found. The CMA cited \"media plurality concerns\" as a key reason for its decision. The competition regulator is concerned that if the deal went through, the Murdoch Family Trust (MFT)'s control across all media platforms in the UK would give it too much influence over public opinion and the political agenda. Communications watchdog Ofcom raised similar concerns in June 2017. Sky and Fox first agreed the deal in December 2016 and the European Commission said in April that it was happy for the takeover to proceed. However, the then Culture Secretary, Karen Bradley, referred the bid to the CMA, and they revealed their provisional findings on Tuesday. There are concerns about Rupert Murdoch controlling 21st Century Fox and Sky, while also owning the Times, the Sunday Times and the Sun newspapers. Opponents say this will give him too much power in the UK media. Fox has also been hit by sexual harassment scandals at its flagship Fox News channel in the US. Some of the victims have given evidence to regulator Ofcom. However, the CMA says in its provisional ruling that, on the issue of broadcasting standards, these issues at Fox News did not call into question the company's commitment to upholding standards in Britain. In December, Walt Disney agreed to snap up the bulk of 21st Century Fox's business for $52.4bn (PS39bn), including Fox's film and television studios and its 39% stake in Sky. Should the acquisition be completed successfully, Disney is likely to assume full ownership of Sky, including Sky News, which would lessen the Murdoch family's influence over British media providers. The deal would expand Disney's offerings, adding the FX and National Geographic cable channels, as well as Fox's regional sports network in the US. Disney already owns a vast array of news, film and leisure companies in the US, including the likes of ABC News and Radio, Vice, ESPN, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Pixar. Although it doesn't yet have big interests in the UK, the deal would extend the company's global reach, adding media company Star India and Fox's interests in Sky plc and Tata Sky to its portfolio. When the Fox bid for Sky was announced in December 2016, Rupert Murdoch was willing to spend PS11.7bn on the deal for Fox to acquire the shares in Sky it did not already own. If the Sky-Fox deal goes ahead, 21st Century Fox would gain access to Sky's 22 million customers in Europe. As well as the UK and Ireland, Sky owns similar satellite pay-TV operations in Germany and Italy. It would also have full control over how it is run, rather than having to listen to independent shareholders. However, if the Disney-Fox deal does finally go through, which would almost certainly be after the Sky-Fox deal, the whole of Sky would be likely to transfer to Disney's ownership. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation tried to buy BSkyB in 2011, but the deal fell apart after revelations about the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone by the Murdoch-owned News of the World. Then, as now, there was opposition from Labour and the Liberal Democrats as well as other media groups. After this, Mr Murdoch split the broadcasting and film empire - Fox - away from his newspaper interests - News Corp. The CMA's ruling is only provisional, so this tale still has a long time to run. The process now moves to a three-week public consultation where the CMA will receive responses to its provisional ruling. After that, it will incorporate the responses into a final report, which will be sent to new Culture Secretary Matt Hancock by 1 May. He then has 30 working days to make the final decision as to whether or not the deal will go ahead.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1356, "answer_start": 782, "text": "There are concerns about Rupert Murdoch controlling 21st Century Fox and Sky, while also owning the Times, the Sunday Times and the Sun newspapers. Opponents say this will give him too much power in the UK media. Fox has also been hit by sexual harassment scandals at its flagship Fox News channel in the US. Some of the victims have given evidence to regulator Ofcom. However, the CMA says in its provisional ruling that, on the issue of broadcasting standards, these issues at Fox News did not call into question the company's commitment to upholding standards in Britain." } ], "id": "121_0", "question": "Why is the deal controversial?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2913, "answer_start": 2242, "text": "When the Fox bid for Sky was announced in December 2016, Rupert Murdoch was willing to spend PS11.7bn on the deal for Fox to acquire the shares in Sky it did not already own. If the Sky-Fox deal goes ahead, 21st Century Fox would gain access to Sky's 22 million customers in Europe. As well as the UK and Ireland, Sky owns similar satellite pay-TV operations in Germany and Italy. It would also have full control over how it is run, rather than having to listen to independent shareholders. However, if the Disney-Fox deal does finally go through, which would almost certainly be after the Sky-Fox deal, the whole of Sky would be likely to transfer to Disney's ownership." } ], "id": "121_1", "question": "Why was Mr Murdoch keen on the takeover?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3340, "answer_start": 2914, "text": "Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation tried to buy BSkyB in 2011, but the deal fell apart after revelations about the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone by the Murdoch-owned News of the World. Then, as now, there was opposition from Labour and the Liberal Democrats as well as other media groups. After this, Mr Murdoch split the broadcasting and film empire - Fox - away from his newspaper interests - News Corp." } ], "id": "121_2", "question": "Did Murdoch try to buy Sky once before?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3777, "answer_start": 3341, "text": "The CMA's ruling is only provisional, so this tale still has a long time to run. The process now moves to a three-week public consultation where the CMA will receive responses to its provisional ruling. After that, it will incorporate the responses into a final report, which will be sent to new Culture Secretary Matt Hancock by 1 May. He then has 30 working days to make the final decision as to whether or not the deal will go ahead." } ], "id": "121_3", "question": "What happens now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time, to the joy of activists. The Gulf kingdom is the only country in the world that bans women from driving. Until now, only men were allowed licences and women who drove in public risked being arrested and fined. Praise for the move has been pouring in from inside Saudi Arabia, as well as around the world. US President Donald Trump said it was a \"positive step\" towards promoting women's rights. Campaigner Sahar Nassif told the BBC from Jeddah that she was \"very, very excited - jumping up and down and laughing\". \"I'm going to buy my dream car, a convertible Mustang, and it's going to be black and yellow!\" - A ministerial body will be set up to give advice within 30 days - The royal order will be implemented by 24 June 2018 The country's US ambassador, Prince Khaled bin Salman, confirmed that women would not have to get male permission to take driving lessons, and would be able to drive anywhere they liked. He said it was \"an historic and big day\" and \"the right decision at the right time\". Rights groups in the kingdom have campaigned for years to allow women to drive, and some women have been imprisoned for defying the rule. Because of the law, many families have had to employ private drivers to help transport female relatives. Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was detained for 73 days in 2014 for flouting the ban, tweeted \"thank God\" following the announcement. The move was welcomed by the US state department, which called it \"a great step in the right direction\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres echoed that sentiment. Manal al-Sharif, an organiser of the Women2Drive campaign who has also been imprisoned for driving, said on Twitter that Saudi Arabia would \"never be the same again\". The hashtags \"I am my own guardian\" and \"Saudi Women Can Drive\" quickly gained traction on social media. Not everyone reacted positively, however, with conservative voices accusing the government of \"bending the verses of Sharia\". \"As far as I remember, Sharia scholars have said it was haram (forbidden) for women to drive. How come it has suddenly become halal (permissible)?\" one critic tweeted. Others emphasised that despite the latest development, Saudi Arabia remains a long way off gender equality. Amnesty International's Philip Luther said it was \"just one step\", adding: \"We also need to see a whole range of discriminatory laws and practices swept away in Saudi Arabia.\" By Frank Gardner, BBC News This decree is huge for Saudi Arabia. For decades now, Saudi women, many of whom are extremely well-educated and ambitious, have been waiting for their chance to participate fully in their country's economy. For all this time families have had to stretch their budgets to the limit, as they have had to hire in imported chauffeurs from south and south-east Asia, house them, feed them and insure them. An estimated 800,000 foreign chauffeurs currently ferry Saudi women around. The reason it has taken so long is the long-standing opposition from religious conservatives, who have expressed views varying from \"they are too stupid to drive\" to \"it will lead to intolerable mingling of the sexes\". Yet this decree is in line with a programme called Vision 2030, promoted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, to modernise Saudi society and bring it more into line with the rest of the world. Saudi law enforces a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism and is known for its gender segregation rules. Women have to adhere to strict dress codes, must not associate with unrelated men, and if they want to travel, work or access healthcare they must be accompanied by - or receive written permission from - a male guardian. The kingdom recently faced a backlash from conservatives on social media after allowing women to participate in Saturday's National Day celebrations for the first time. The festivities included fireworks, light shows and a concert in King Fahd International Stadium in the capital, Riyadh.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1477, "answer_start": 1092, "text": "Rights groups in the kingdom have campaigned for years to allow women to drive, and some women have been imprisoned for defying the rule. Because of the law, many families have had to employ private drivers to help transport female relatives. Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was detained for 73 days in 2014 for flouting the ban, tweeted \"thank God\" following the announcement." } ], "id": "122_0", "question": "What has the road to reform been like?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2493, "answer_start": 1478, "text": "The move was welcomed by the US state department, which called it \"a great step in the right direction\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres echoed that sentiment. Manal al-Sharif, an organiser of the Women2Drive campaign who has also been imprisoned for driving, said on Twitter that Saudi Arabia would \"never be the same again\". The hashtags \"I am my own guardian\" and \"Saudi Women Can Drive\" quickly gained traction on social media. Not everyone reacted positively, however, with conservative voices accusing the government of \"bending the verses of Sharia\". \"As far as I remember, Sharia scholars have said it was haram (forbidden) for women to drive. How come it has suddenly become halal (permissible)?\" one critic tweeted. Others emphasised that despite the latest development, Saudi Arabia remains a long way off gender equality. Amnesty International's Philip Luther said it was \"just one step\", adding: \"We also need to see a whole range of discriminatory laws and practices swept away in Saudi Arabia.\"" } ], "id": "122_1", "question": "What was the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US lawyer Michael Avenatti, who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Trump, has been arrested on fraud charges. Prosecutors say he tried to extort more than $20m (PS15m) from Nike, threatening to use his profile to inflict reputational harm on the firm. In a separate case, the 48-year-old has been accused of embezzlement. Mr Avenatti has denied attempting to extort Nike. \"We never attempted to extort Nike & when the evidence is disclosed, the public will learn the truth about Nike's crime & coverup,\" Mr Avenatti tweeted. He has not commented on the other allegations. A frequent guest on TV news and talk shows, Mr Avenatti emerged as a fierce critic of Donald Trump. At one point he said he was considering running for president himself in 2020. Mr Avenatti appeared in a New York court on Monday and was released on $300,000 (PS227,000) bail on condition that he surrender his US and Italian passports. He did not enter a plea. Outside court, he said he was confident he would be \"fully exonerated\". He told reporters he had spent his career fighting powerful people and powerful corporations and that he would \"never stop fighting that good fight\". According to federal prosecutors in New York, Mr Avenatti met a lawyer for Nike earlier this month. During their meeting, he allegedly threatened to release damaging information about the company unless it paid him and another, unnamed co-conspirator between $15m (PS11.4m) and $25m (PS19m). He also demanded $1.5m (PS1.13m) for an individual he claimed to represent. Mr Avenatti reportedly threatened to take $10bn (PS7.56bn) off Nike's market value. He was arrested in New York on Monday, shortly after announcing that he would hold a news conference about a scandal surrounding Nike on Tuesday. \"A suit and tie does not mask the fact that, at its core, this was an old-fashioned shakedown,\" said prosecutor Geoffrey Berman told reporters. Nike said in a statement it would \"not be extorted or hide information that is relevant to a government investigation\". The company said it immediately reported the matter to federal prosecutors. In another case in Los Angeles, Mr Avenatti has been charged with embezzling money from a client and defrauding a bank. Los Angeles prosecutor Nick Hanna said Mr Avenatti describes himself as an \"attorney, advocate and fighter for good\" on social media, while in fact he \"fights for his own selfish interests\". Prosecutors say that he negotiated a $1.6m settlement for a client, but only gave them a \"bogus\" agreement with a false payment date. He allegedly then collected the settlement in secret and \"advanced\" $130,000 to his client, using the rest to support his \"lavish lifestyle\". Mr Avenatti is also accused of falsifying documents to secure a loan from a Mississippi bank. He is due to appear in court in California on 1 April and in New York on 25 April. Mr Avenatti has formerly represented Stormy Daniels, who is suing the president to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she signed before the 2016 election. The non-disclosure agreement related to an affair she said he had with Mr Trump in 2006. On Saturday, he tweeted that the president should be indicted for colluding with his former lawyer \"to violate the law and commit crimes.\" Ms Daniels, in a tweet, said on Monday that she had terminated Mr Avenatti's contract \"more than a month ago... after discovering that he had dealt with me extremely dishonestly\". \"Knowing what I know now about Michael, I'm saddened but not shocked regarding his arrest.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2128, "answer_start": 1191, "text": "According to federal prosecutors in New York, Mr Avenatti met a lawyer for Nike earlier this month. During their meeting, he allegedly threatened to release damaging information about the company unless it paid him and another, unnamed co-conspirator between $15m (PS11.4m) and $25m (PS19m). He also demanded $1.5m (PS1.13m) for an individual he claimed to represent. Mr Avenatti reportedly threatened to take $10bn (PS7.56bn) off Nike's market value. He was arrested in New York on Monday, shortly after announcing that he would hold a news conference about a scandal surrounding Nike on Tuesday. \"A suit and tie does not mask the fact that, at its core, this was an old-fashioned shakedown,\" said prosecutor Geoffrey Berman told reporters. Nike said in a statement it would \"not be extorted or hide information that is relevant to a government investigation\". The company said it immediately reported the matter to federal prosecutors." } ], "id": "123_0", "question": "What are the Nike charges about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2892, "answer_start": 2129, "text": "In another case in Los Angeles, Mr Avenatti has been charged with embezzling money from a client and defrauding a bank. Los Angeles prosecutor Nick Hanna said Mr Avenatti describes himself as an \"attorney, advocate and fighter for good\" on social media, while in fact he \"fights for his own selfish interests\". Prosecutors say that he negotiated a $1.6m settlement for a client, but only gave them a \"bogus\" agreement with a false payment date. He allegedly then collected the settlement in secret and \"advanced\" $130,000 to his client, using the rest to support his \"lavish lifestyle\". Mr Avenatti is also accused of falsifying documents to secure a loan from a Mississippi bank. He is due to appear in court in California on 1 April and in New York on 25 April." } ], "id": "123_1", "question": "What other charges is Avenatti facing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3550, "answer_start": 2893, "text": "Mr Avenatti has formerly represented Stormy Daniels, who is suing the president to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she signed before the 2016 election. The non-disclosure agreement related to an affair she said he had with Mr Trump in 2006. On Saturday, he tweeted that the president should be indicted for colluding with his former lawyer \"to violate the law and commit crimes.\" Ms Daniels, in a tweet, said on Monday that she had terminated Mr Avenatti's contract \"more than a month ago... after discovering that he had dealt with me extremely dishonestly\". \"Knowing what I know now about Michael, I'm saddened but not shocked regarding his arrest.\"" } ], "id": "123_2", "question": "What about Stormy Daniels?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "YouTube stars and fans are gathering in London for Summer in the City, the UK's largest and longest-running online video festival. We meet the people who get to call YouTube their job. Lucy Moon is a 23-year-old online influencer, whose days consist of creating videos for her YouTube channel, writing blog posts and recording her podcast from her flat in London. With a combined online following of more than half a million, Lucy says it's her honesty that's kept people watching, reading and listening for the last eight years. And in 2016 she really put that idea to the test, when she uploaded a video to her channel, revealing she had \"an alcohol problem\". \"I don't think that video was a choice for me to make because I was in a really bad place in my life,\" she tells the BBC. \"For me, it's about being authentic and honest with the people who watch me, and if I hadn't addressed what was going on in my life at the time then I couldn't have ever made another video. \"At that point in my life, the best thing I could do was address it publicly, so I made this video and then had to deal with the consequences of making it public.\" Lucy says the whole experience was \"really helpful\" but she was not prepared for the response, with \"hundreds, even thousands of emails and messages\" from people telling her about their own experiences and giving her advice. She couldn't believe how many people were invested in her life. According to data from the US, YouTube is the most popular online destination for teens, with 85% of them choosing it as their top platform to visit in their spare time. So why is it that millions of young people are shunning traditional entertainment like TV and choosing to watch the lives of ordinary people unfold instead? \"People turn to TV for a more glamorous view of people's lives,\" Lucy says. \"They watch scripted and curated personal stories of what script writers and directors have gone through, whereas with YouTubers we are very current and everything is very raw a lot of the time. \"Whilst some of that can be construed and manipulated, there is a lot of real and honest discussion that is really vital in making it normal for us to talk about our feelings and normalise it to teenagers and young adults.\" Lucy's audience get a look in to many aspects of her life on her YouTube channel, from the clothes she's bought to the make up she puts on in the morning and how she chooses to spend her weekends. She says it's \"very easy to become invested in someone's life\" as the video-sharing platform is a \"microcosm of celebrity culture\". \"You get to really follow someone's life and there's this ability to really connect with someone every day through a 10-minute window of their time and your time. \"They develop personal relationships with that person and they become role models and I think that's really nice,\" she says. But just like celebrities, YouTubers get criticised by the public too, except it's a lot easier for them to be exposed to hateful comments and trolls. Lucy says she really \"struggled\" at first with cruel comments because they were really accessible - seeing them underneath her videos or in her mentions on Twitter were hard to block out. \"I've learnt how to deal with the online forums and gossip, but a big part of that was getting support. \"I have management who help me now and a therapist, I also get my sister to read my comments before I do so I don't have to see something nasty and cutting that will ruin my day. \"She leaves up valid criticism, but if it's just cruel then it's gone and that's such a relief - it means I don't have to fear going into places where I can actually get good feedback.\" Lucy is clear to point out that whilst her job has \"a lot of perks\" it is not as easy as just hitting record on a camera and then uploading straight to the internet. \"At the end of the day you're having to keep a business going and you're a self-employed person,\" she says. \"A lot of my work day is not actually about making videos, but all the elements that come with running a business - like answering emails, admin and planning future projects. \"On top of that I'm making content every week - I'm making a video every week, which can take between a couple of hours and two to three days to film and edit.\" She says she is often frustrated by the thought \"that if you don't work a 9-5 specifically, then you don't work\". \"I don't know why that's levied at YouTubers but not every freelancer or photographer,\" she says. \"Everyone is working a 40-50 hour week in different ways - a lot of YouTubers don't take weekends but I force myself to and recently I took my first bank holiday for example.\" She also says \"a common misconception is that we receive loads of packages all the time - free gifts and presents.\" \"If I get one thing a week I get really excited and run to the post office!\" And does YouTube reveal everything there is to know about Lucy's life? Definitely not, she says. \"We don't document all of our lives, we do have friends who don't do YouTube and have family we don't put on camera. \"We have big worlds as multi-faceted people, but we only portray a small amount of that because it's what we enjoy sharing and is a nice amount to give to the world.\" Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5246, "answer_start": 4285, "text": "She says she is often frustrated by the thought \"that if you don't work a 9-5 specifically, then you don't work\". \"I don't know why that's levied at YouTubers but not every freelancer or photographer,\" she says. \"Everyone is working a 40-50 hour week in different ways - a lot of YouTubers don't take weekends but I force myself to and recently I took my first bank holiday for example.\" She also says \"a common misconception is that we receive loads of packages all the time - free gifts and presents.\" \"If I get one thing a week I get really excited and run to the post office!\" And does YouTube reveal everything there is to know about Lucy's life? Definitely not, she says. \"We don't document all of our lives, we do have friends who don't do YouTube and have family we don't put on camera. \"We have big worlds as multi-faceted people, but we only portray a small amount of that because it's what we enjoy sharing and is a nice amount to give to the world.\"" } ], "id": "124_0", "question": "Free gifts?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong's opposition pro-democracy movement has made unprecedented gains in the Chinese territory's district council elections, early results show. According to local media counts, 17 of the 18 councils are now controlled by pro-democracy councillors. Despite fears the vote could be disrupted or cancelled over the unrest, it went ahead peacefully. The election was seen as a test of support for the government after months of unrest, protests and clashes. The government and Beijing had been hoping the election would bring a show of support from the so-called \"silent majority\", but that did not materialise. Instead some significant pro-Beijing candidates lost council seats. One controversial pro-Beijing lawmaker, who lost his seat, Junius Ho, said \"heaven and earth have been turned upside down\". Hong Kong's district councillors have little political power and mainly deal with local issues such as bus routes and rubbish collection, so the district elections don't normally generate such interest. But these polls were the first time people could express at the ballot box their opinion on embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam's handling of the crisis, which was sparked by a now withdrawn extradition law. Also, 117 of the district councillors will also sit on the 1,200-member committee that votes for the chief executive, so a pro-democracy district win could translate eventually to a bigger share, and say, in who becomes the city's next leader. A record 4.1 million people had registered to vote - more than half the population - and more than 2.9m people cast votes. That's a turnout of more than 71%, against 47% in 2015. The weekend was also the first in months without any clashes between protesters and police. Over the past months, demonstrations and unrest had been gradually escalating. Police have at times used live rounds, wounding several protesters. Activists in turn have attacked police or in one case set alight a government supporter. It was unclear how much of the general population still supported the protesters, and authorities had been hoping the election would identify the protesters as a small group of fringe extremists. But in many districts, young first-time candidates, many who had explicitly aligned themselves with the protesters, unseated established politicians backing the government. The hope from activists is that the overwhelming victory of anti-establishment parties will force the government to take protesters' demands more seriously. Stephen McDonell, BBC China correspondent, in Hong Kong Outside the Yau Ma Tei North polling station, local residents lined up to gain entry so they could watch the vote count. The doors opened and they poured into the public viewing area. Six months into an ongoing political crisis, people have lost faith in government institutions. They wanted to make sure that this process was fair and transparent. As they waited for the total in their own district council to be tallied, they could see the numbers coming in from elsewhere on their mobile phones. By their facial expressions it was clear they couldn't believe what was unfolding, and people cheered in astonishment as one surprising result came in after another. Nobody imagined such a comprehensive wipeout, and Carrie Lam's administration will no doubt come under renewed pressure to listen to the demands of protestors following such an overwhelming defeat for her and her allies. More than 1,000 candidates ran for 452 district council seats which, for the first time, were all contested. A further 27 district seats are allocated to representatives of rural districts. Pro-Beijing parties held the majority of these seats ahead of the election. In one of the biggest losses for the pro-Beijing camp, lawmaker Junius Ho - one of Hong Kong's most controversial politicians - suffered a shock defeat. He was stabbed earlier this month by a man pretending to be a supporter. The lawmaker has openly voiced his support for Hong Kong's police force on multiple occasions. He was in July filmed shaking hands with a group of men - suspected of being triad gangsters - who later assaulted pro-democracy protesters. Jimmy Sham, a political activist who has recently risen to prominence as the leader of the Civil Human Rights Front - a campaign group responsible for organising some of the mass protest marches - won a seat after running for the first time. Mr Sham has also been attacked twice, once apparently with hammers. Photographs at the time showed him lying on the street covered in blood. After the vote, Mr Sham said \"we have to be leaders of the community that listens to people's voices and opinions\". Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was barred from running in the elections, a move he referred to as \"political screening\", but the pro-democracy candidate who replaced him has won. In a tweet, Mr Wong said the \"historic\" results showed that public opinion had not turned against the pro-democracy movement. Reflecting on her reported defeat, pro-Beijing lawmaker Alice Mak suggested Ms Lam's administration was partly to blame. \"In the election campaign, pro-government candidates have been unfairly treated. This is a very important reason,\" she said. Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the city's largest pro-Beijing party, was among the few establishment candidates to secure her seat. \"I think [Lee] is the only one who can survive the de facto referendum,\" said Leung Kwok-hung, her pro-democracy opponent in the poll.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1732, "answer_start": 806, "text": "Hong Kong's district councillors have little political power and mainly deal with local issues such as bus routes and rubbish collection, so the district elections don't normally generate such interest. But these polls were the first time people could express at the ballot box their opinion on embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam's handling of the crisis, which was sparked by a now withdrawn extradition law. Also, 117 of the district councillors will also sit on the 1,200-member committee that votes for the chief executive, so a pro-democracy district win could translate eventually to a bigger share, and say, in who becomes the city's next leader. A record 4.1 million people had registered to vote - more than half the population - and more than 2.9m people cast votes. That's a turnout of more than 71%, against 47% in 2015. The weekend was also the first in months without any clashes between protesters and police." } ], "id": "125_0", "question": "Why is this vote so important?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2494, "answer_start": 1733, "text": "Over the past months, demonstrations and unrest had been gradually escalating. Police have at times used live rounds, wounding several protesters. Activists in turn have attacked police or in one case set alight a government supporter. It was unclear how much of the general population still supported the protesters, and authorities had been hoping the election would identify the protesters as a small group of fringe extremists. But in many districts, young first-time candidates, many who had explicitly aligned themselves with the protesters, unseated established politicians backing the government. The hope from activists is that the overwhelming victory of anti-establishment parties will force the government to take protesters' demands more seriously." } ], "id": "125_1", "question": "What does it mean for Hong Kong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "UK Prime Minister Theresa May made the snap election on 8 June personal right from the start. In April she said the election would not be just about the parties' competing visions on Brexit, but also about who could best pull off a deal. \"It will be a choice between strong and stable leadership in the national interest, with me as your prime minister, or weak and unstable coalition government, led by Jeremy Corbyn,\" she said. \"Every vote for the Conservatives will make me stronger when I negotiate for Britain with the prime ministers, presidents and chancellors of the European Union.\" She stressed early on that the stakes could hardly be higher. After all, whoever wins this election will face three extraordinary challenges: - Shaping Britain's post-Brexit future, after more than 40 years of EU membership being a cornerstone of the UK's economy and diplomacy - Keeping the UK from breaking apart over its exit from the EU - Healing the still sometimes bitter divisions between the opposing sides in last year's EU referendum. At first Mrs May seemed on track for a thumping victory. The early evidence suggested that Brexit was trumping normal party loyalties, with many of Labour's white working-class voters, who had backed Leave, deserting the party over the EU and because of their dislike for Jeremy Corbyn. In one so-called \"safe\" Labour seat near Manchester I struggled to find anyone who would be backing the party in 2017, despite hours talking to voters. And crucially Mrs May was winning back many of the nearly four million people who had voted for the anti-EU party UKIP at the last election. Her decision to call a snap election also seemed to be working in Scotland. As I travelled amid the beautiful hills and small towns of the Scottish Borders, I saw and heard first-hand the phenomenon of voters opposed to independence deciding to back the Conservatives, seeing it as the best way of voicing opposition to a second Scottish referendum. Of course this general election won't settle the question of how best Scotland should be governed, given the continuing high levels of support for independence. But it will affect who has the political momentum, and whether another referendum will be held before or after Brexit, or perhaps whether it happens at all. It's certainly Brexit that is dominating the election in Northern Ireland, where the EU referendum last June divided the province, as ever, on sectarian lines. Most Roman Catholics voted to remain in the EU, while many Protestants voted to leave. Although Northern Irish voters told me they couldn't imagine a return to violence, they did voice concern about what would happen to relations between the North and South, and in particular, whether border controls would be reintroduced after Brexit. It was while I was in Northern Ireland, a part of the UK where the mainland parties neither stand nor campaign, that Mrs May's election seemed to come unstuck. Just days after launching her party's manifesto, she abandoned a key part of it, thus undermining her main slogan that she was the only politician offering \"strong and stable\" leadership. The terror attack in Manchester temporarily put the election campaign on hold. When it resumed, the bombing seemed not to have had much effect on the polls. Whether the 3 June attack in London will have a bigger effect on the final outcome, given the more political reaction of the parties, is hard to say. Extensive academic research in other countries suggests attacks during election campaigns don't tend to have much effect. Maybe the UK will prove different, but maybe not. Despite Jeremy Corbyn's past support for groups many voters would consider to be terrorists, attention once again focused on Mrs May and her somewhat tarnished image as a rather wooden politician, campaigning more on slogans than clear policies. Ultimately Mrs May continues to hope that, whatever her flaws, on 8 June the voters will decide she rather than Jeremy Corbyn would get the best deal on Brexit. As to this being dubbed the Brexit election, it may well be that Brexit decides the outcome, rather than concerns about security or austerity. But any voters, countries or companies hoping to learn much more from the campaigns about what Britain's post-EU future holds will have been sadly disappointed. Above all, this has felt like an election that has failed to come to life, despite the stakes being higher than in decades. It seems to be an election where the key questions affecting millions of people won't be answered until after the votes are counted and the Brexit negotiations begin.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4611, "answer_start": 2285, "text": "It's certainly Brexit that is dominating the election in Northern Ireland, where the EU referendum last June divided the province, as ever, on sectarian lines. Most Roman Catholics voted to remain in the EU, while many Protestants voted to leave. Although Northern Irish voters told me they couldn't imagine a return to violence, they did voice concern about what would happen to relations between the North and South, and in particular, whether border controls would be reintroduced after Brexit. It was while I was in Northern Ireland, a part of the UK where the mainland parties neither stand nor campaign, that Mrs May's election seemed to come unstuck. Just days after launching her party's manifesto, she abandoned a key part of it, thus undermining her main slogan that she was the only politician offering \"strong and stable\" leadership. The terror attack in Manchester temporarily put the election campaign on hold. When it resumed, the bombing seemed not to have had much effect on the polls. Whether the 3 June attack in London will have a bigger effect on the final outcome, given the more political reaction of the parties, is hard to say. Extensive academic research in other countries suggests attacks during election campaigns don't tend to have much effect. Maybe the UK will prove different, but maybe not. Despite Jeremy Corbyn's past support for groups many voters would consider to be terrorists, attention once again focused on Mrs May and her somewhat tarnished image as a rather wooden politician, campaigning more on slogans than clear policies. Ultimately Mrs May continues to hope that, whatever her flaws, on 8 June the voters will decide she rather than Jeremy Corbyn would get the best deal on Brexit. As to this being dubbed the Brexit election, it may well be that Brexit decides the outcome, rather than concerns about security or austerity. But any voters, countries or companies hoping to learn much more from the campaigns about what Britain's post-EU future holds will have been sadly disappointed. Above all, this has felt like an election that has failed to come to life, despite the stakes being higher than in decades. It seems to be an election where the key questions affecting millions of people won't be answered until after the votes are counted and the Brexit negotiations begin." } ], "id": "126_0", "question": "Northern Ireland: Return of a hard border?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The second round of the Niger presidential election takes place on Sunday 20 March, and the result may have implications for regional stability and the fight against Islamist terrorism in West Africa. Incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou looks set to secure a second term in office, as opposition candidate Hama Amadou has been evacuated from prison to France for specialized medical treatment just days before the run-off, raising concerns over the poll. The former parliamentary speaker and prime minister has been in detention in the south-western town of Filingue since November 2015 over allegations of baby trafficking. He has dismissed the charges as politically motivated. Niger is seen as a key ally in the fight against Boko Haram, and President Issoufou has been praised in the West for rallying neighbouring countries to fight the group. President Issoufou seems poised for victory in the run-off, having narrowly missed outright victory in the first round with 48% of the vote. Having garnered only 17%, it will be difficult for Mr Amadou to bridge the gap despite the opposition alliance backing him. Mixed messages about a poll boycott are also likely to weaken his chances. It is still unclear if the Opposition Coalition for Change (COPA 2016) - an alliance formed to back Mr Amadou - will take part in the vote, having announced a boycott. The opposition has said it will not recognise the outcome, saying Mr Amadou's imprisonment prevented him from campaigning, among other complaints; while the government's handling of his medical condition is a sensitive issue that could inflame tensions. The nature of Mr Amadou's illness is not clear, but the government says he has \"a chronic illness which he has suffered from for three years\". The 66-year-old received medical treatment for an eye condition recently. On 14 March, he reportedly lost consciousness before being revived at the prison clinic, his doctor telling a local TV station that he had fainted. The doctor was later arrested for \"revealing medical confidentiality and spreading false news\". On 16 March, it was reported that Amadou had been flown to France for \"specialist treatment\", with the government claiming that he was suffering from \"general fatigue\". The opposition has made conflicting statements about their participation. On 8 March, COPA 2016 announced its withdrawal on account of \"irregularities and massive fraud\". However, the coalition reportedly did not consult Mr Amadou about the boycott, and his camp later asserted that he would take part in the vote. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) says the opposition candidate's name will be on the ballot because he had not formally withdrawn his candidacy by the cut-off date of 10 March. The governing Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) says the vote will proceed with or without the opposition, accusing its rivals of fearing \"dismal defeat\". - Population is of 16.6 million people; 7.5 million are eligible voters - UN report said last month about two million people would need urgent food aid this year due to drought - Challenges include unemployment and absence of infrastructure - Country has oil, gold and uranium deposits, as well as agricultural potential More about Niger Niger is fragile and its stability is at stake as one of the poorest countries in Africa. It also finds itself on the frontline in the fight against jihadist group Boko Haram, and Mr Issoufou has been active in rallying a regional force against the group. The president claimed to have foiled a coup against him in December, and military officers and opposition leaders were subsequently arrested. Seen as a key ally of the West in ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the vast Sahel region, the incumbent president has been described as one of French President Francois Hollande's \"most loyal African partners\". It has also been attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. A vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger is rated by the UN as one of the world's least-developed nations. 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": 1613, "answer_start": 852, "text": "President Issoufou seems poised for victory in the run-off, having narrowly missed outright victory in the first round with 48% of the vote. Having garnered only 17%, it will be difficult for Mr Amadou to bridge the gap despite the opposition alliance backing him. Mixed messages about a poll boycott are also likely to weaken his chances. It is still unclear if the Opposition Coalition for Change (COPA 2016) - an alliance formed to back Mr Amadou - will take part in the vote, having announced a boycott. The opposition has said it will not recognise the outcome, saying Mr Amadou's imprisonment prevented him from campaigning, among other complaints; while the government's handling of his medical condition is a sensitive issue that could inflame tensions." } ], "id": "127_0", "question": "What is the likely outcome?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2243, "answer_start": 1614, "text": "The nature of Mr Amadou's illness is not clear, but the government says he has \"a chronic illness which he has suffered from for three years\". The 66-year-old received medical treatment for an eye condition recently. On 14 March, he reportedly lost consciousness before being revived at the prison clinic, his doctor telling a local TV station that he had fainted. The doctor was later arrested for \"revealing medical confidentiality and spreading false news\". On 16 March, it was reported that Amadou had been flown to France for \"specialist treatment\", with the government claiming that he was suffering from \"general fatigue\"." } ], "id": "127_1", "question": "What is Hama Amadou's current condition?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2923, "answer_start": 2244, "text": "The opposition has made conflicting statements about their participation. On 8 March, COPA 2016 announced its withdrawal on account of \"irregularities and massive fraud\". However, the coalition reportedly did not consult Mr Amadou about the boycott, and his camp later asserted that he would take part in the vote. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) says the opposition candidate's name will be on the ballot because he had not formally withdrawn his candidacy by the cut-off date of 10 March. The governing Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) says the vote will proceed with or without the opposition, accusing its rivals of fearing \"dismal defeat\"." } ], "id": "127_2", "question": "Will the opposition take part in the run-off?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3939, "answer_start": 3262, "text": "Niger is fragile and its stability is at stake as one of the poorest countries in Africa. It also finds itself on the frontline in the fight against jihadist group Boko Haram, and Mr Issoufou has been active in rallying a regional force against the group. The president claimed to have foiled a coup against him in December, and military officers and opposition leaders were subsequently arrested. Seen as a key ally of the West in ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the vast Sahel region, the incumbent president has been described as one of French President Francois Hollande's \"most loyal African partners\". It has also been attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb." } ], "id": "127_3", "question": "What are the key issues facing the country?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4215, "answer_start": 3940, "text": "A vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger is rated by the UN as one of the world's least-developed nations. 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": "127_4", "question": "What is Niger like?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The withdrawal of US troops from Syria depends on certain conditions, US National Security Adviser John Bolton says, in a further indication that the process is being slowed down. On a trip to Israel and Turkey, he said he would seek Turkish assurances that Kurds in northern Syria would be safe. The US also wants to ensure that the remnants of the Islamic State (IS) group are defeated, he added. President Donald Trump has faced strong criticism over the planned US pullout. When he first announced the move in the middle of December, he said: \"They're all coming back and they're coming back now.\" After the president made his announcement on 19 December, US officials said American forces had been given 30 days to leave Syria. In his announcement, Mr Trump had also declared that IS had been \"defeated\". However, speaking on Sunday before leaving for his Camp David retreat, he told reporters: \"We're going to be removing our troops. I never said we were doing it that quickly. \"We're pulling out of Syria... and we won't be finally pulled out until Isis [IS] is gone.\" Last month's announcement shocked allies and US defence officials alike, with Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and senior aide Brett McGurk resigning soon after. On Saturday, Department of Defence chief of staff Kevin Sweeney became the third senior Pentagon official to announce his resignation since President Trump's announcement. Meanwhile, America's Kurdish allies in north-east Syria were left feeling exposed as Turkey, which regards them as terrorists, appeared poised to move against them. But Mr Trump seemed to row back last week when he said troops were being pulled out \"slowly\" and that they would be fighting remaining IS militants at the same time. \"We don't think the Turks ought to undertake military action that is not fully co-ordinated with and agreed to by the United States at a minimum so they don't endanger our troops, but also so that they meet the president's requirement that the Syrian opposition forces that have fought with us are not endangered,\" Mr Bolton said in Israel ahead of talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He told reporters there was no timetable for a US withdrawal from Syria but that there was not an unlimited commitment. Mr Bolton also said President Trump wanted to ensure that IS was \"destroyed\". Mr Netanyahu said he would discuss Iran's ambitions in Syria when he met Mr Bolton on Sunday evening. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will begin a week-long tour of the Middle East designed to reassure allies in the region. The US partnership with the Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) is credited with playing a major role in the demise of IS. But the main fighting force in the SDF is the Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkey regards as a terrorist group. On Sunday, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was \"irrational\" to suggest Turkey targeted Kurds. Ibrahim Kalin said Turkey's focus was on the YPG and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - which Ankara also regards as a terror group. Some 2,000 US military personnel are reported to be in Syria although the real numbers could be higher. American ground troops first became involved in Syria in autumn 2015 when then-President Barack Obama sent in a small number of special forces to train and advise local Kurdish fighters who were fighting IS. The US did this reluctantly after several attempts at arming anti-IS groups had descended into chaos. Over the intervening years the number of US troops in Syria has increased, and a network of bases and airfields has been established in an arc across the north-eastern part of the country.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3066, "answer_start": 1737, "text": "\"We don't think the Turks ought to undertake military action that is not fully co-ordinated with and agreed to by the United States at a minimum so they don't endanger our troops, but also so that they meet the president's requirement that the Syrian opposition forces that have fought with us are not endangered,\" Mr Bolton said in Israel ahead of talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He told reporters there was no timetable for a US withdrawal from Syria but that there was not an unlimited commitment. Mr Bolton also said President Trump wanted to ensure that IS was \"destroyed\". Mr Netanyahu said he would discuss Iran's ambitions in Syria when he met Mr Bolton on Sunday evening. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will begin a week-long tour of the Middle East designed to reassure allies in the region. The US partnership with the Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) is credited with playing a major role in the demise of IS. But the main fighting force in the SDF is the Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkey regards as a terrorist group. On Sunday, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was \"irrational\" to suggest Turkey targeted Kurds. Ibrahim Kalin said Turkey's focus was on the YPG and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - which Ankara also regards as a terror group." } ], "id": "128_0", "question": "What did John Bolton say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3669, "answer_start": 3067, "text": "Some 2,000 US military personnel are reported to be in Syria although the real numbers could be higher. American ground troops first became involved in Syria in autumn 2015 when then-President Barack Obama sent in a small number of special forces to train and advise local Kurdish fighters who were fighting IS. The US did this reluctantly after several attempts at arming anti-IS groups had descended into chaos. Over the intervening years the number of US troops in Syria has increased, and a network of bases and airfields has been established in an arc across the north-eastern part of the country." } ], "id": "128_1", "question": "What is the US presence in Syria?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Australia has formally agreed to a deal to help build a 4,000km (2,500 mile) internet cable to the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands, a small Pacific nation, had originally given the contract to Chinese company Huawei. Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela has said the decision followed \"concerns raised by Australia\", which neither nation has elaborated upon. Analysts say Canberra is concerned about China's influence in the region, a subject of recent Australian debate. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday: \"As we step up our engagement in the Pacific, we are working as partners with Solomon Islands more closely than ever to ensure stability, security and prosperity in the region.\" Australia is expected to commit about A$100m (PS56m;$75m) of its foreign aid budget to the project. The deal will bring high-speed internet to the island chain via an underwater cable from Sydney. Australia agreed to a similar deal with Papua New Guinea last year. Australia is the dominant source of foreign aid for the Solomon Islands. Last year, Canberra ended a 14-year peacekeeping mission and signed a renewed security agreement. Mr Houenipwela said his country had abandoned its 2016 agreement with Huawei, a private telecommunications giant. \"We have had some concerns raised with us by Australia, and I guess that was the trigger for us to change from Huawei to now the arrangements we are now working with Australia on,\" he said last week. Canberra has previously blocked Huawei from taking part in Australian infrastructure projects, citing national security concerns. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Australian spy chiefs had been opposed to Huawei's deal with the Solomon Islands, arguing it might compromise the security of infrastructure in both nations. Australia is keen to offset what it sees as efforts by China to gain regional influence, according to Peter Jennings, executive director of think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute. \"Our government was very concerned about the prospect of Huawei providing the Solomons with its sole internet access connection, because that does create an opportunity for an intelligence organisation to monitor all of the communications traffic coming in and out of the island,\" he told the BBC. Tensions between Australia and China have been strained in recent times after Canberra announced new laws designed to prevent foreign interference. Beijing has dismissed allegations of political interference in Australia as \"hysteria\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2527, "answer_start": 1148, "text": "Mr Houenipwela said his country had abandoned its 2016 agreement with Huawei, a private telecommunications giant. \"We have had some concerns raised with us by Australia, and I guess that was the trigger for us to change from Huawei to now the arrangements we are now working with Australia on,\" he said last week. Canberra has previously blocked Huawei from taking part in Australian infrastructure projects, citing national security concerns. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Australian spy chiefs had been opposed to Huawei's deal with the Solomon Islands, arguing it might compromise the security of infrastructure in both nations. Australia is keen to offset what it sees as efforts by China to gain regional influence, according to Peter Jennings, executive director of think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute. \"Our government was very concerned about the prospect of Huawei providing the Solomons with its sole internet access connection, because that does create an opportunity for an intelligence organisation to monitor all of the communications traffic coming in and out of the island,\" he told the BBC. Tensions between Australia and China have been strained in recent times after Canberra announced new laws designed to prevent foreign interference. Beijing has dismissed allegations of political interference in Australia as \"hysteria\"." } ], "id": "129_0", "question": "What is the controversy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Anne Rucchetto, 27, is a writer living in Toronto, Canada. As part of the BBC's 100 Women series, she writes about why it matters who picks up the bill. When I first began dating, my mother warned me that there was \"no such thing as a free drink\". She would elaborate gravely: \"Men will think you owe them something.\" I know my mother didn't mean to fill me with dread, but her statement left me troubled each time I met someone new. It took me time to relinquish the sense of obligation I felt to men who covered the cost of my $5 beer - but since then, I've never looked back. As someone who's been dating since the age of 14, I've spent a lot of time thinking and talking about ways to find a great partner, as well as what behaviours to look for when meeting someone for the first time. These days finding a date is easier than ever, with apps and online communities for people of every conceivable orientation, identity, and background. But who should pay for the first date always sparks a spirited conversation. I used to embrace the logic that for women to be treated as equal to men, we should pay for our own share, and split the bill with our date. To make sure that's never a problem, I've always suggested affordable dating venues - cheap and cheerful restaurants, dive bars, gigs, parks. About five years ago my friends and teachers introduced me to ideas that made me question that approach. I became aware of feminist writers like Gloria Jean Watkins (known by her pen name bell hooks) who made me think about who benefits most from the current structure of society. She and others got me thinking about the way power functions at the every level, including small individual exchanges. People benefit differently based on the current structure of society, so depending on who we're spending time with, it shouldn't be expected for both parties to pay equal amounts. Women, on average, earn less than men. Canadian women, on average, earn C$0.69 for every dollar a man makes at work. This doesn't mean that our cost of living is cheaper - in many cases, it can be more expensive. Expectations around women's appearances and behaviour have material and personal costs. Women's physical appearances are held to impossibly high standards and a routine subject of ridicule everywhere from the entertainment industry to The White House. We are expected to be calmer, more attentive, understanding, flexible, and accommodating than men in every area of our lives - in family, work, relationships, and friendships. Meeting these norms is costly - materially and emotionally. Furthermore, who pays cannot be reduced to an issue of men versus women. We all have different experiences based on our gender, social and economic status, race, citizenship, and more. Ultimately, equality is not the same as equity. Equality is everyone getting the exact same pair of shoes. Equity is everyone getting a pair of shoes that fits them. In good relationships, people will strive for equity. When I went on a first date with a man who spent most of the time boasting about his sports car and travels, it confused me when he wanted to split the bill. Curiously, it is often these privileged men that have declared to my friends and I: \"I'm a feminist, so we'll split it\" Whether or not men believe women's labour is underpaid, it is. Further, whether or not men agree with women being underpaid, they directly benefit from it. This isn't to say that men don't work hard or should always pay - when I've been in situations where it is obvious that I have more income than the man I'm dating, I am happy to split or cover the bill. If I sense that a man correlates his paying for a first date with me \"owing\" him in some way, I will insist on paying for both of us and shut down any chance of further communication. This kind of primitive thinking shows a lack of perspective, respect, and consent. I have dated both men and women, and funnily enough, anytime I've dated a woman, or gender-diverse person we've ended up competing to pay the bill. I've been with my partner, Zac, for over a year now. I had a good feeling about him when he told me he loved animals, described his appreciation for his friends, and shared his views about labour rights. He paid for our first date and I paid for our second. Now, we share expenses based on what we can afford when we go out together or visit each other's homes. This might change in the future, but we've found a balance that works for both of us. Our most important goal is to make sure that both of us feel respected and that neither of us feel underappreciated or taken advantage of. First dates are one small opportunity to recognise that people in society have different access to resources. If we want to be good company and good partners, challenging power imbalances is an important part of every relationship. Who pays on a first date doesn't define the terms of the relationship. As bonds develop, the people involved can work to find terms that suit them. Regardless of the expectations we might have about who should (or shouldn't) pay on a first date, it's always good to be considerate. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year and shares their stories. It's been a momentous year for women's rights around the globe, so in 2018 BBC 100 Women will reflect the trailblazing women who are using passion, indignation and anger to spark real change in the world around them.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5471, "answer_start": 5141, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year and shares their stories. It's been a momentous year for women's rights around the globe, so in 2018 BBC 100 Women will reflect the trailblazing women who are using passion, indignation and anger to spark real change in the world around them." } ], "id": "130_0", "question": "What is 100 Women?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has called the king of Saudi Arabia to urge Gulf unity amid an escalating dispute over Qatar's alleged support for militants. Earlier, he said the Saudis' move to isolate Qatar could mark the \"beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism\". Several Gulf countries cut travel and embassy links with Qatar on Monday. Qatar strongly denies supporting radical Islamism. The rift has affected oil prices, travel and shipping, and has raised fears of food shortages. The emir of Kuwait is mediating in the dispute and the president of Turkey has also offered to help, saying isolation and sanctions will not resolve the crisis. \"His [Mr Trump's] message was that we need unity in the region to fight extremist ideology and terrorist financing,\" a US official told Reuters news agency. Mr Trump had earlier claimed credit for the pressure placed on Qatar, saying his recent visit to Saudi Arabia was \"already paying off\". In a series of tweets on Tuesday morning, Mr Trump accused Qatar of funding terrorism, saying: \"During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar - look!\" In his phone call to King Salman, he was quoted by Reuters as saying: \"It's important that the Gulf be united for peace and security in the region,\" Separately, the Pentagon thanked Qatar for hosting the largest US air force base in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister called on Qatar to cut ties with Palestinian group Hamas in the occupied territories, and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, if it wanted to end its isolation in the Gulf region. Adel Al-Jubeir said: \"Nobody wants to hurt Qatar. It has to choose whether it must move in one direction or another direction.\" Speaking in Paris, he said the economic measures should put pressure on Qatar to act \"like a normal country\". He name-checked \"support of extremist groups\", \"hostile media\" and \"interference in affairs of other countries\" as things Qatar would have to change if it wished to restore ties. He added that Qatar was undermining the Palestinian Authority and Egypt by supporting Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, and said stopping these policies would \"contribute to stability in the Middle East\". Hamas is the largest of several militant Islamist Palestinian groups, and was the first Islamist group in the Arab world to win election at the ballot box, before it took power in Gaza after a battle 10 years ago. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is another Islamist group that became politically active. Some countries designate both as terrorist groups. The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Washington says Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have all funded extremists in Syria but pulled back under US pressure, while Qatar, which likes to see itself as a neutral player and potential intermediary, has dealings that are arguably murkier than the others'. But Qatar's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Than, said: \"There is no single evidence that the Qatar government is supporting radical Islamists.\" On Monday, several countries withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, Qatar's capital, while some cut transport links and gave Qatari nationals two weeks to leave their territory. Disruption to airspace in the Gulf began on Tuesday morning local time. Doha, Qatar's capital, is a major hub for international flight connections. Airlines affected include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have revoked the licences of Qatar Airways and ordered its offices to close. When avoiding Saudi Arabia, their massive - and only - neighbour, Qatar's planes are having to take more indirect routes, leading to longer flight times. Qatar is heavily dependent on food imports and residents have been queuing at supermarkets to stockpile. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said isolating Qatar would \"not resolve any problems\" and called for \"mutual dialogue\". \"In this respect, we appreciate Qatar's constructive stance,\" he said. \"Trying to isolate Qatar, which certainly carries out an efficient fight against terrorism, will not resolve any problems.\" France's President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Mr Erdogan and to the emir of Qatar in separate telephone calls, saying he was ready to back \"all initiatives to encourage calm\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1429, "answer_start": 807, "text": "Mr Trump had earlier claimed credit for the pressure placed on Qatar, saying his recent visit to Saudi Arabia was \"already paying off\". In a series of tweets on Tuesday morning, Mr Trump accused Qatar of funding terrorism, saying: \"During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar - look!\" In his phone call to King Salman, he was quoted by Reuters as saying: \"It's important that the Gulf be united for peace and security in the region,\" Separately, the Pentagon thanked Qatar for hosting the largest US air force base in the Middle East." } ], "id": "131_0", "question": "What is Trump saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2615, "answer_start": 1430, "text": "Saudi Arabia's foreign minister called on Qatar to cut ties with Palestinian group Hamas in the occupied territories, and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, if it wanted to end its isolation in the Gulf region. Adel Al-Jubeir said: \"Nobody wants to hurt Qatar. It has to choose whether it must move in one direction or another direction.\" Speaking in Paris, he said the economic measures should put pressure on Qatar to act \"like a normal country\". He name-checked \"support of extremist groups\", \"hostile media\" and \"interference in affairs of other countries\" as things Qatar would have to change if it wished to restore ties. He added that Qatar was undermining the Palestinian Authority and Egypt by supporting Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, and said stopping these policies would \"contribute to stability in the Middle East\". Hamas is the largest of several militant Islamist Palestinian groups, and was the first Islamist group in the Arab world to win election at the ballot box, before it took power in Gaza after a battle 10 years ago. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is another Islamist group that became politically active. Some countries designate both as terrorist groups." } ], "id": "131_1", "question": "What do the Saudis want?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3832, "answer_start": 2616, "text": "The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Washington says Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have all funded extremists in Syria but pulled back under US pressure, while Qatar, which likes to see itself as a neutral player and potential intermediary, has dealings that are arguably murkier than the others'. But Qatar's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Than, said: \"There is no single evidence that the Qatar government is supporting radical Islamists.\" On Monday, several countries withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, Qatar's capital, while some cut transport links and gave Qatari nationals two weeks to leave their territory. Disruption to airspace in the Gulf began on Tuesday morning local time. Doha, Qatar's capital, is a major hub for international flight connections. Airlines affected include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have revoked the licences of Qatar Airways and ordered its offices to close. When avoiding Saudi Arabia, their massive - and only - neighbour, Qatar's planes are having to take more indirect routes, leading to longer flight times. Qatar is heavily dependent on food imports and residents have been queuing at supermarkets to stockpile." } ], "id": "131_2", "question": "What is happening in Qatar?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4328, "answer_start": 3833, "text": "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said isolating Qatar would \"not resolve any problems\" and called for \"mutual dialogue\". \"In this respect, we appreciate Qatar's constructive stance,\" he said. \"Trying to isolate Qatar, which certainly carries out an efficient fight against terrorism, will not resolve any problems.\" France's President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Mr Erdogan and to the emir of Qatar in separate telephone calls, saying he was ready to back \"all initiatives to encourage calm\"." } ], "id": "131_3", "question": "Does anyone sympathise with Qatar?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Turkey has launched a ground offensive in northern Syria, hours after its warplanes and artillery began hitting territory held by Kurdish-led forces. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was to create a \"safe zone\" cleared of Kurdish militias which will also house Syrian refugees. The unilateral decision has been widely condemned, with the European Union urging Turkey to end its offensive. Kurdish-led forces who were key US allies vowed to resist. The offensive was launched just days after President Donald Trump withdrew US troops from the border area, a decision that was criticised at home and abroad. The Kurds - who helped defeat the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria - guard thousands of IS fighters and their relatives in prisons and camps in areas under their control. It is unclear whether they will continue to do so if battles break out. In an earlier statement, Mr Trump - who had threatened to \"obliterate\" Turkey's economy if it went \"off limits\" - said the US did not \"endorse this attack\", calling the operation a \"bad idea\". UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab expressed \"serious concerns\" about the offensive, saying it \"risks destabilising the region, exacerbating humanitarian suffering, and undermining the progress made against\" IS. On Twitter, Mr Erdogan said the mission \"was to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area\", vowing to \"preserve Syria's territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists.\" Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG militia - the dominant force in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. Several towns and villages were hit by air strikes and artillery fire, and residents were fleeing the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said at least eight people had been killed. Late on Wednesday, Turkey's defence ministry said Turkish troops and Syrian rebel allies had entered the area \"east of the Euphrates\". A pro-Turkish group told AFP news agency the offensive had begun in Tal Abyad, an area under YPG control. But SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said their forces had repelled a ground incursion, and that there was \"no advance as of now\". The Turkish government plans to send two million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees living on its soil to the \"safe zone\". The offensive could displace 300,000 people living the area, the International Rescue Committee said. It was thought the offensive - Turkey's third military operation in northern Syria in three years - would initially focus on a 100km (62-mile) stretch between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, a sparsely populated, mainly Arab area. Mr Bali said the towns of Kobane, to the west, and Qamishli, to the east, had been hit by Turkish shelling. If Turkish troops advance towards those towns they would have to move into densely populated, mainly Kurdish areas. The SDF also said one the prisons holding IS fighters had been hit by a Turkish airstrike. And amid growing humanitarian concerns, it asked the US-led coalition against IS to establish a no-fly zone to stop \"attacks on innocent people\". By BBC's Orla Guerin in Akcakale on the Turkish-Syrian border Turkey has moved incredibly swiftly. It is hard to give any assessment at this point of how long this operation will carry on. It has certainly been very long in the planning - it is something that Turkey has wanted to do for at least two years. President Erdogan says this is the beginning of Operation Peace Spring. There is no doubt that for the Syrian civilians who are just across the border this is going to be seen as another round of battling in an agonisingly long war. The Kurdish forces have emphasised almost frantically that the hard-won gains in their long battle against IS are now being put at risk. The SDF have lost an estimated 11,000 fighters in battling IS. They succeeded with American help. But they point out, for example, that they may have to withdraw their forces from prisons where they are holding IS fighters or from cities that have been liberated from IS. The Kurds are basically saying to the West: the war that we fought on your behalf is at risk because of what Turkey wants to do. The EU said it was \"unlikely that a so-called 'safe zone'... would satisfy international criteria for refugee return while the UK and France planned to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey, a Nato member, had \"legitimate security concerns\" but that he expected the country to \"act with restraint and to ensure that any action... is proportionate and measured. US Senator Lindsay Graham, a close ally of Mr Trump, said he would lead an effort in Congress to \"make Erdogan pay a heavy price\", adding: \"Pray for our Kurdish allies who have been shamelessly abandoned by the Trump Administration.\" In his statement, Mr Trump also said Turkey would be responsible for ensuring that suspected IS fighters being held captive remained in prison and that IS did not regroup. The SDF says it is detaining more than 12,000 suspected IS members in seven prisons, and at least 4,000 of them are foreign nationals. The exact locations have not been revealed, but some are reportedly close to the Turkish border. Two camps - Roj and Ain Issa - holding families of suspected IS members are inside the \"safe zone\". Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so contact us by emailing [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3270, "answer_start": 1271, "text": "On Twitter, Mr Erdogan said the mission \"was to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area\", vowing to \"preserve Syria's territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists.\" Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG militia - the dominant force in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. Several towns and villages were hit by air strikes and artillery fire, and residents were fleeing the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said at least eight people had been killed. Late on Wednesday, Turkey's defence ministry said Turkish troops and Syrian rebel allies had entered the area \"east of the Euphrates\". A pro-Turkish group told AFP news agency the offensive had begun in Tal Abyad, an area under YPG control. But SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said their forces had repelled a ground incursion, and that there was \"no advance as of now\". The Turkish government plans to send two million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees living on its soil to the \"safe zone\". The offensive could displace 300,000 people living the area, the International Rescue Committee said. It was thought the offensive - Turkey's third military operation in northern Syria in three years - would initially focus on a 100km (62-mile) stretch between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, a sparsely populated, mainly Arab area. Mr Bali said the towns of Kobane, to the west, and Qamishli, to the east, had been hit by Turkish shelling. If Turkish troops advance towards those towns they would have to move into densely populated, mainly Kurdish areas. The SDF also said one the prisons holding IS fighters had been hit by a Turkish airstrike. And amid growing humanitarian concerns, it asked the US-led coalition against IS to establish a no-fly zone to stop \"attacks on innocent people\"." } ], "id": "132_0", "question": "What is Turkey's plan?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5212, "answer_start": 4350, "text": "The EU said it was \"unlikely that a so-called 'safe zone'... would satisfy international criteria for refugee return while the UK and France planned to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey, a Nato member, had \"legitimate security concerns\" but that he expected the country to \"act with restraint and to ensure that any action... is proportionate and measured. US Senator Lindsay Graham, a close ally of Mr Trump, said he would lead an effort in Congress to \"make Erdogan pay a heavy price\", adding: \"Pray for our Kurdish allies who have been shamelessly abandoned by the Trump Administration.\" In his statement, Mr Trump also said Turkey would be responsible for ensuring that suspected IS fighters being held captive remained in prison and that IS did not regroup." } ], "id": "132_1", "question": "What has the international reaction been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5544, "answer_start": 5213, "text": "The SDF says it is detaining more than 12,000 suspected IS members in seven prisons, and at least 4,000 of them are foreign nationals. The exact locations have not been revealed, but some are reportedly close to the Turkish border. Two camps - Roj and Ain Issa - holding families of suspected IS members are inside the \"safe zone\"." } ], "id": "132_2", "question": "How would an incursion affect the IS situation?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US Senate has passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill seeking to address concerns that the US locks up too many of its citizens. The First Step Act, which has been championed by US President Donald Trump, passed by a vote of 87-12. The bipartisan measure found unlikely support from hardline conservatives and progressive liberals alike. The US leads the world in number of jailed citizens. Around 2.2m Americans were in jail in 2016, figures show. The bill, which is expected to be debated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, would only affect federal prisoners accounting for about 10% of the total US prison population. Moments after the vote passed, President Trump tweeted: \"America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes.\" The bill would overhaul the US justice system by giving more discretion to judges during sentencing, and by strengthening prisoner rehabilitation efforts. Among the sentencing guidelines being revised is one reducing the \"three strikes\" penalty for drug felons from life in prison to 25 years. The \"three strikes\" policy - introduced during the Clinton presidency - mandated strict penalties for those convicted of three serious crimes. The First Step Act also limits the disparity in sentencing guidelines between powder and crack cocaine, which could affect up to 2,600 prisoners, according to the Marshall Project. It allows for more criminals to serve their sentences in halfway houses or under home confinement, and requires offenders to be jailed within 500 miles (800km) of their families. It bans shackling pregnant prisoners and mandates that tampons and sanitary napkins be available to women. It reduces the mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crimes, and authorises $375m (PS297m) in federal spending for job training and educational programmes for prisoners. New Jersey Democratic Cory Booker hailed the legislation as \"one small step [that] will affect thousands and thousands of lives\". All 49 Democrats in the Senate voted in favour of the bill, with several mentioning that prisons are disproportionally filled with minority groups. Twelve conservative law-and-order Republican senators voted against the bill. Many of the supporters of the First Step Act had also rallied behind the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which was supported by former President Barack Obama. That bill looked set for passage before Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell blocked it, and refused to put it to a vote in the run-up to the 2016 election. Earlier this year, White House adviser Jared Kushner began working with Republicans to draft a bill that Mr Trump could sign into law. With Mr Trump's endorsement, the Republican group was able to shore up enough support to bring the bill to a vote. \"This is the biggest thing,\" said Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley after the vote was held. So Congress actually did something? The first two years of the Donald Trump presidency have been defined in part by high-profile partisan battles in Congress - over healthcare, immigration, tax reform and presidential nominees. Beneath the surface, however, there's been a somewhat surprising undercurrent of bipartisan co-operation. Democrats and Republicans have come together to pass legislation to address the opioid addiction crisis, modernise the Federal Aviation Administration, provide additional resources for veterans and fund vast swaths of the federal government using traditional appropriations processes. In the last few weeks alone, Congress enacted - and the president signed - a law to provide research and treatment for sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that predominantly affects African-Americans. It unanimously passed a $60m bill to prevent maternal mortality. This criminal justice reform bill could represent the highest-profile accomplishment yet. With Democrats in control of the House of Representatives next year, Congress and the president will have no choice but to seek bipartisan solutions if they want to enact any significant legislation. That may be a challenge, given that even as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders heralded the reform bill as a \"historic win\", she couldn't resist taking a shot across the political aisle. \"Imagine how much more we can accomplish in the years ahead if - like on criminal justice - Democrats spend more time working with GOP to build America up and less time tearing the President down,\" she tweeted.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2033, "answer_start": 823, "text": "The bill would overhaul the US justice system by giving more discretion to judges during sentencing, and by strengthening prisoner rehabilitation efforts. Among the sentencing guidelines being revised is one reducing the \"three strikes\" penalty for drug felons from life in prison to 25 years. The \"three strikes\" policy - introduced during the Clinton presidency - mandated strict penalties for those convicted of three serious crimes. The First Step Act also limits the disparity in sentencing guidelines between powder and crack cocaine, which could affect up to 2,600 prisoners, according to the Marshall Project. It allows for more criminals to serve their sentences in halfway houses or under home confinement, and requires offenders to be jailed within 500 miles (800km) of their families. It bans shackling pregnant prisoners and mandates that tampons and sanitary napkins be available to women. It reduces the mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crimes, and authorises $375m (PS297m) in federal spending for job training and educational programmes for prisoners. New Jersey Democratic Cory Booker hailed the legislation as \"one small step [that] will affect thousands and thousands of lives\"." } ], "id": "133_0", "question": "What does the law actually do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2955, "answer_start": 2034, "text": "All 49 Democrats in the Senate voted in favour of the bill, with several mentioning that prisons are disproportionally filled with minority groups. Twelve conservative law-and-order Republican senators voted against the bill. Many of the supporters of the First Step Act had also rallied behind the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which was supported by former President Barack Obama. That bill looked set for passage before Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell blocked it, and refused to put it to a vote in the run-up to the 2016 election. Earlier this year, White House adviser Jared Kushner began working with Republicans to draft a bill that Mr Trump could sign into law. With Mr Trump's endorsement, the Republican group was able to shore up enough support to bring the bill to a vote. \"This is the biggest thing,\" said Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley after the vote was held." } ], "id": "133_1", "question": "How did it get this far?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The small, icy world known as Ultima Thule has finally been revealed. A new picture returned from Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft shows it to be two objects joined together - to give a look like a \"snowman\". The US probe's images acquired as it approached Ultima hinted at the possibility of a double body, but the first detailed picture from Tuesday's close flyby confirms it. New Horizons encountered Ultima 6.5 billion km from Earth. The event set a record for the most distant ever exploration of a Solar System object. The previous mark was also set by New Horizons when it flew past the dwarf planet Pluto in 2015. But Ultima is 1.5 billion km further out. It orbits the Sun in a region of the Solar System known as the Kuiper belt - a collection of debris and dwarf planets. There are hundreds of thousands of Kuiper members like Ultima, and their frigid state almost certainly holds clues to how all planetary bodies came into being some 4.6 billion years ago. The mission team thinks the two spheres that make up this particular object probably joined right at the beginning, or very shortly after. The scientists have decided to call the larger lobe \"Ultima\", and the smaller lobe \"Thule\". The volume ratio is three to one. Jeff Moore, a New Horizons co-investigator from Nasa's Ames Research Center, said the pair would have come together at very low speed, at maybe 2-3km/h. He joked: \"If you had a collision with another car at those speeds you may not even bother to fill out the insurance forms.\" The new data from Nasa's spacecraft also shows just how dark the object is. Its brightest areas reflect just 13% of the light falling on them; the darkest, just 6%. That's similar to potting soil, said Cathy Olkin, the mission's deputy project scientist from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). It has a tinge of colour, however. \"We had a rough colour from Hubble but now we can definitely say that Ultima Thule is red,\" added colleague Carly Howett, also from SwRI. \"Our current theory as to why Ultima Thule is red is the irradiation of exotic ices.\" Essentially, its surface has been \"burnt\" over the eons by the high-energy cosmic rays and X-rays that flood space. Principal Investigator Alan Stern paid tribute to the skill of his team in acquiring the image as New Horizons flew past the object, reaching 3,500km from its surface at closest approach. The probe had to target Ultima very precisely to be sure of getting it centre-frame in the view of the cameras and other instruments onboard. \"[Ultima's] only really the size of something like Washington DC, and it's about as reflective as garden variety dirt, and it's illuminated by a Sun that's 1,900 times fainter than it is outside on a sunny day here on the Earth. We were basically chasing it down in the dark at 32,000mph (51,000km/h) and all that had to happen just right,\" the SwRI scientist said. Less than 1% of all the data gathered by New Horizons during the flyby has been downlinked to Earth. The slow data-rates from the Kuiper belt mean it will be fully 20 months before all the information is pulled off the spacecraft. The best of the pictures shared by the team on Wednesday were taken while the probe was still 28,000km from Ultima and discern surface features larger than 140m across. Pictures are expected in February that were captured at the moment of closest approach and these will have a resolution of about 35m per pixel. Several factors make Ultima Thule, and the domain in which it moves, so interesting to scientists. One is that the Sun is so dim in this region that temperatures are down near 30-40 degrees above absolute zero - the lower end of the temperature scale and the coldest atoms and molecules can possibly get. As a result, chemical reactions have essentially stalled. This means Ultima is in such a deep freeze that it is probably perfectly preserved in the state in which it formed. Another factor is that Ultima is small (about 33km in the longest dimension), and this means it doesn't have the type of \"geological engine\" that in larger objects will rework their composition. And a third factor is just the nature of the environment. It's very sedate in the Kuiper belt. Unlike in the inner Solar System, there are probably very few collisions between objects. The Kuiper belt hasn't been stirred up. Prof Stern said: \"Everything that we're going to learn about Ultima - from its composition to its geology, to how it was originally assembled, whether it has satellites and an atmosphere, and that kind of thing - is going to teach us about the original formation conditions in the Solar System that all the other objects we've gone out and orbited, flown by and landed on can't tell us because they're either large and evolve, or they are warm. Ultima is unique.\" First, the scientists must work on the Ultima data, but they will also ask Nasa to fund a further extension to the mission. The hope is that the course of the spacecraft can be altered slightly to visit at least one more Kuiper belt object sometime in the next decade. New Horizons should have just enough fuel reserves to be able to do this. Critically, it should also have sufficient electrical reserves to keep operating its instruments into the 2030s. The longevity of New Horizon's plutonium battery may even allow it to record its exit from the Solar System. The two 1970s Voyager missions have both now left the heliosphere - the bubble of gas blown off our Sun (one definition of the Solar System's domain). Voyager 2 only recently did it, in November. And in case you were wondering, New Horizons will never match the Voyagers in terms of distance travelled from Earth. Although New Horizons was the fastest spacecraft ever launched in 2006, it continues to lose ground to the older missions. The reason: the Voyagers got a gravitational speed boost when they passed the outer planets. Voyager-1 is now moving at almost 17km/s; New Horizons is moving at 14km/s. The BBC's Sky At Night programme will broadcast a special episode on the flyby on Sunday 13 January on BBC Four at 22:30 GMT. Presenter Chris Lintott will review the event and discuss some of the new science to emerge from the encounter with the New Horizons team. [email protected] and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4788, "answer_start": 3426, "text": "Several factors make Ultima Thule, and the domain in which it moves, so interesting to scientists. One is that the Sun is so dim in this region that temperatures are down near 30-40 degrees above absolute zero - the lower end of the temperature scale and the coldest atoms and molecules can possibly get. As a result, chemical reactions have essentially stalled. This means Ultima is in such a deep freeze that it is probably perfectly preserved in the state in which it formed. Another factor is that Ultima is small (about 33km in the longest dimension), and this means it doesn't have the type of \"geological engine\" that in larger objects will rework their composition. And a third factor is just the nature of the environment. It's very sedate in the Kuiper belt. Unlike in the inner Solar System, there are probably very few collisions between objects. The Kuiper belt hasn't been stirred up. Prof Stern said: \"Everything that we're going to learn about Ultima - from its composition to its geology, to how it was originally assembled, whether it has satellites and an atmosphere, and that kind of thing - is going to teach us about the original formation conditions in the Solar System that all the other objects we've gone out and orbited, flown by and landed on can't tell us because they're either large and evolve, or they are warm. Ultima is unique.\"" } ], "id": "134_0", "question": "What's so special about the Kuiper belt?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5959, "answer_start": 4789, "text": "First, the scientists must work on the Ultima data, but they will also ask Nasa to fund a further extension to the mission. The hope is that the course of the spacecraft can be altered slightly to visit at least one more Kuiper belt object sometime in the next decade. New Horizons should have just enough fuel reserves to be able to do this. Critically, it should also have sufficient electrical reserves to keep operating its instruments into the 2030s. The longevity of New Horizon's plutonium battery may even allow it to record its exit from the Solar System. The two 1970s Voyager missions have both now left the heliosphere - the bubble of gas blown off our Sun (one definition of the Solar System's domain). Voyager 2 only recently did it, in November. And in case you were wondering, New Horizons will never match the Voyagers in terms of distance travelled from Earth. Although New Horizons was the fastest spacecraft ever launched in 2006, it continues to lose ground to the older missions. The reason: the Voyagers got a gravitational speed boost when they passed the outer planets. Voyager-1 is now moving at almost 17km/s; New Horizons is moving at 14km/s." } ], "id": "134_1", "question": "What does New Horizons do next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "German politicians have hit back at the new US ambassador for having said he wanted to \"empower\" Europe's right. Richard Grenell, appointed by President Donald Trump last year, was speaking to right-wing Breitbart News. Diplomats usually avoid political point-scoring. A German foreign ministry spokesman said \"we have asked the US side for clarification\". Lars Klingbeil, a top Social Democrat (SPD) official, accused the ambassador of \"interfering\" in German affairs. Mr Klingbeil told Mr Grenell off in an angry tweet addressed to him personally. The centre-left SPD is in a governing coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU). Former SPD leader Martin Schulz - a previous European Parliament president - said Mr Grenell \"is behaving not like a diplomat, but like a far-right colonial officer\". Mr Grenell had told Breitbart: \"I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left.\" His comments follow several other controversial remarks by Trump-appointed diplomats. In the interview, the ambassador, who only took office last month, said President Trump's election had energised people to take on the \"political class\". Mr Grenell said he had been contacted by people throughout Europe about a conservative \"resurgence\". He attacked the perceived bias of the media and politicians against Mr Trump as \"the group-think of a very small elitist crowd\", and praised Austria's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz as a \"rock star\". Mr Kurz's party formed a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party in 2017. Right-wing populists have won support across Europe, with recent electoral success for parties in Italy and Slovenia that espouse anti-immigration policies. US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy described Mr Grenell's interview as \"awful\" and said he had previously spoken to him about \"politicising this post\". Formerly the longest serving US spokesperson at the United Nations, Mr Grenell is under contract with Fox News as a contributor on world affairs and the media. He has also written for the Wall Street Journal, Politico, the Washington Times, Al Jazeera, CBS News and CNN. A Senate vote in May confirmed him as US ambassador to Germany. But only an hour after he officially began his role, Mr Grenell provoked controversy for tweeting that German companies should \"wind down operations immediately\" in Iran, following Mr Trump's announcement that the US was pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. Mr Grenell's comments are the most recent case of controversial language from a US diplomat. The US state department's guide, Protocol for the Modern Diplomat, states that \"each country will be respected uniformly and without bias\", and includes the instruction \"that as a guest, one is expected to respect the host's culture\". However, former US ambassador to Germany John Kornblum told the BBC there is \"no lexicon\" for ambassadors. \"There is no such thing as diplomatic language,\" he said. \"The language diplomats use is attuned to their needs.\" For example, during the negotiations for the Dayton Agreement in 1995, Mr Kornblum says there was \"incredibly undiplomatic\" language used to criticise heads of government, in particular Serbia. He also believes that in Europe there is a greater degree of \"self-censorship\" among diplomats that does not apply anywhere else in the world, saying \"Europeans are especially sensitive\". However, he agrees that President Trump has changed things. \"Mr Trump has taken political language in the US to new depths,\" said Mr Kornblum. And he thinks diplomats abroad could be trying to emulate their president. President Trump has infamously dubbed Mexicans \"drug dealers\" and \"rapists\", reportedly used derogatory language to describe some African countries and claimed knife crime in London had left a hospital there \"like a war zone\". Yes. In October 2017, US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa Scott Brown said he was under investigation for telling a woman at a Peace Corps event she was \"beautiful\" and could \"make hundreds of dollars\" if she worked as a waitress in the US. In a video statement to New Zealand media, Mr Brown admitted he had made the comments, but only did so because the people he saw before the event \"were all dirty and grungy, and when we walked in, they were all dressed to the nines; they looked great\". And US ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra was recently caught out over his claims about \"no-go zones\" in the country due to Islamic extremism.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2519, "answer_start": 1926, "text": "Formerly the longest serving US spokesperson at the United Nations, Mr Grenell is under contract with Fox News as a contributor on world affairs and the media. He has also written for the Wall Street Journal, Politico, the Washington Times, Al Jazeera, CBS News and CNN. A Senate vote in May confirmed him as US ambassador to Germany. But only an hour after he officially began his role, Mr Grenell provoked controversy for tweeting that German companies should \"wind down operations immediately\" in Iran, following Mr Trump's announcement that the US was pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal." } ], "id": "135_0", "question": "What's his background?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3895, "answer_start": 2520, "text": "Mr Grenell's comments are the most recent case of controversial language from a US diplomat. The US state department's guide, Protocol for the Modern Diplomat, states that \"each country will be respected uniformly and without bias\", and includes the instruction \"that as a guest, one is expected to respect the host's culture\". However, former US ambassador to Germany John Kornblum told the BBC there is \"no lexicon\" for ambassadors. \"There is no such thing as diplomatic language,\" he said. \"The language diplomats use is attuned to their needs.\" For example, during the negotiations for the Dayton Agreement in 1995, Mr Kornblum says there was \"incredibly undiplomatic\" language used to criticise heads of government, in particular Serbia. He also believes that in Europe there is a greater degree of \"self-censorship\" among diplomats that does not apply anywhere else in the world, saying \"Europeans are especially sensitive\". However, he agrees that President Trump has changed things. \"Mr Trump has taken political language in the US to new depths,\" said Mr Kornblum. And he thinks diplomats abroad could be trying to emulate their president. President Trump has infamously dubbed Mexicans \"drug dealers\" and \"rapists\", reportedly used derogatory language to describe some African countries and claimed knife crime in London had left a hospital there \"like a war zone\"." } ], "id": "135_1", "question": "Is 'diplomatic language' dying out?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4544, "answer_start": 3896, "text": "Yes. In October 2017, US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa Scott Brown said he was under investigation for telling a woman at a Peace Corps event she was \"beautiful\" and could \"make hundreds of dollars\" if she worked as a waitress in the US. In a video statement to New Zealand media, Mr Brown admitted he had made the comments, but only did so because the people he saw before the event \"were all dirty and grungy, and when we walked in, they were all dressed to the nines; they looked great\". And US ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra was recently caught out over his claims about \"no-go zones\" in the country due to Islamic extremism." } ], "id": "135_2", "question": "Undiplomatic diplomats: Are there more?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A US judge labelled \"Mexican\" by President Donald Trump last year is to hear a high-profile deportation case. Judge Gonzalo Curiel, whom Mr Trump also called a \"hater\", was apparently assigned to the lawsuit randomly. The case involves Juan Manuel Montes, who says he was deported from California in February, though he has lived in the US since he was a child. But US immigration officials say the 23-year-old voluntarily left the US for Mexico. The lawsuit has been seized upon by immigration advocates and critics of the president as proof that his administration is arbitrarily deporting US residents. Lawyers for Mr Montes, who lived in the US since he was nine years old, say he was deported on 17 February after he was stopped in the border city of Calexico, California, by Border Patrol officials. He said he had left his wallet and identification in a friend's car. The plaintiff says he made clear he was protected from deportation under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), an Obama-era programme allowing immigrants brought illegally to the US as children to stay. But Mr Montes - who has a cognitive disability from a brain injury - says he was deported to Mexico anyway. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has no record of Mr Montes being deported on 17 February. The DHS says it does have a record, however, of arresting Mr Montes on 19 February after he climbed a border fence to try to get back into the US from Mexico. He was sent back. Mr Montes and his lawyers concede he did climb over the border fence, but only because he had been unfairly deported in the first place. The case hinges on whether the 17 February encounter alleged by Mr Montes ever happened. If not, then he was not protected under Daca, because he would have left the US without permission and then tried to re-enter illegally. The DHS has already corrected one detail of its records - the department originally said Mr Montes' Daca enrolment had expired in 2015, but it acknowledged on Wednesday that his status was valid until 2018. However, the agency also said Mr Montes had \"lost his Daca status when he left the United States without [permission from immigration authorities] on an unknown date prior to his arrest\" by Border Patrol on 19 February. Activists have seized on the case to argue that the Trump administration is going back on its word not to deport more than 750,000 immigrants awarded Daca status. They say Mr Montes may be the first \"Dreamer\", as Daca enrolees are known, deported under Mr Trump's presidency. US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel presided last year over a lawsuit involving students who claimed fraud after paying to attend real estate seminars branded as Trump University. During the lawsuit, Mr Trump said Judge Curiel's \"Mexican heritage\" meant that he would not rule fairly in the case, because Mr Trump wanted to build a border wall between the US and Mexico. Mr Trump was condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike for his attacks on the jurist, who was born in Indiana to Mexican parents. Judge Curiel later approved a $25m (PS23.3m) settlement in the case, under the terms of which Mr Trump did not admit any wrongdoing. His assignment to the Montes case is said to be purely coincidental, based on rules for the Southern District of California, which selects judges on a rotating schedule. Judge Curiel will be asked to decide whether US Customs and Border Protection should release information on Mr Montes' deportation to his lawyers. No court date has been set.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1625, "answer_start": 606, "text": "Lawyers for Mr Montes, who lived in the US since he was nine years old, say he was deported on 17 February after he was stopped in the border city of Calexico, California, by Border Patrol officials. He said he had left his wallet and identification in a friend's car. The plaintiff says he made clear he was protected from deportation under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), an Obama-era programme allowing immigrants brought illegally to the US as children to stay. But Mr Montes - who has a cognitive disability from a brain injury - says he was deported to Mexico anyway. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has no record of Mr Montes being deported on 17 February. The DHS says it does have a record, however, of arresting Mr Montes on 19 February after he climbed a border fence to try to get back into the US from Mexico. He was sent back. Mr Montes and his lawyers concede he did climb over the border fence, but only because he had been unfairly deported in the first place." } ], "id": "136_0", "question": "What is the Montes case?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2554, "answer_start": 1626, "text": "The case hinges on whether the 17 February encounter alleged by Mr Montes ever happened. If not, then he was not protected under Daca, because he would have left the US without permission and then tried to re-enter illegally. The DHS has already corrected one detail of its records - the department originally said Mr Montes' Daca enrolment had expired in 2015, but it acknowledged on Wednesday that his status was valid until 2018. However, the agency also said Mr Montes had \"lost his Daca status when he left the United States without [permission from immigration authorities] on an unknown date prior to his arrest\" by Border Patrol on 19 February. Activists have seized on the case to argue that the Trump administration is going back on its word not to deport more than 750,000 immigrants awarded Daca status. They say Mr Montes may be the first \"Dreamer\", as Daca enrolees are known, deported under Mr Trump's presidency." } ], "id": "136_1", "question": "Who is telling the truth?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3533, "answer_start": 2555, "text": "US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel presided last year over a lawsuit involving students who claimed fraud after paying to attend real estate seminars branded as Trump University. During the lawsuit, Mr Trump said Judge Curiel's \"Mexican heritage\" meant that he would not rule fairly in the case, because Mr Trump wanted to build a border wall between the US and Mexico. Mr Trump was condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike for his attacks on the jurist, who was born in Indiana to Mexican parents. Judge Curiel later approved a $25m (PS23.3m) settlement in the case, under the terms of which Mr Trump did not admit any wrongdoing. His assignment to the Montes case is said to be purely coincidental, based on rules for the Southern District of California, which selects judges on a rotating schedule. Judge Curiel will be asked to decide whether US Customs and Border Protection should release information on Mr Montes' deportation to his lawyers. No court date has been set." } ], "id": "136_2", "question": "Who is Judge Gonzalo Curiel?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "South African athlete Caster Semenya has lost her discrimination case against the International Association of Athletics Federation, which has found that forcing athletes with high levels testosterone to lower them is \"discriminatory but necessary\". The 28-year-old Olympian had challenged the IAAF over its decision to restrict testosterone levels in female runners for distances between 400m and a mile. Semenya, who has won the last 29 of her 800m races, was born with intersex traits - meaning her body produces atypically high levels of testosterone. The ruling means she will have to take testosterone suppressants if she wishes to compete in these shorter events. Three sports judges in Switzerland have taken more than two months to reach this verdict - indicating the sensitivity and complexity of the case. Depending on your point of view, the situation seemed clear-cut - whichever way you want to look at it. Supporters of Semenya argue that the runner has been penalised for no other reason than the biological traits that she was born with. She has not cheated, or found to be taking performance-enhancing drugs. Kyle Knight, a researcher in the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch said that taking the proposed IAAF testosterone suppressants would be as \"humiliating as it is medically unnecessary\" for female athletes whose hormone levels are outside accepted boundaries. And in 2019, the spectrum of identity stretches beyond the binary, say human rights activists. So shouldn't Semenya's physical abilities be celebrated the same way as Usain Bolt's height and Michael Phelps's wingspan are? The IAAF say that the issue is not personal to Semenya. But the fact that the ruling is over women competing at the distances she runs - and not across all track and field - has led to the suggestion she is being targeted. But the IAAF insist they are determining boundaries to protect the integrity of sport - particularly women's sport. IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper: \"The reason we have gender classification is because if you didn't then no woman would ever win another title, or another medal, or break another record in our sport.\" Key to this aspect of the argument are testosterone levels. The IAAF says women who have testosterone levels of over five nanomoles per litre of blood (nmol/l) have a significant performance advantage - and are outliers amongst the overall population of women. In other words, they are not representative of women generally, and this undermines the concept of women's sport. They therefore say that Semenya should take medication that would lower her testosterone levels to that amount. But Semenya's team responded by saying: \"Ms Semenya does not wish to undergo medical intervention to change who she is and how she was born. She wants to compete naturally.\" What happens next is anyone's guess. If testosterone levels are being regulated for women's sport they may also be for men's. Transgender (someone whose own gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth) athletes have not been discussed in this conversation. Either way this verdict does not signal the end of the debate. \"Intersex\" is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with sexual anatomy that doesn't fit typical definitions of female or male. Doctors define the terms as disorders of sex development. There are more than 40 variations of intersex traits. Genitals could be ambiguous at birth, or they may become so at puberty. The individual may be anatomically or genetically male but appear female - or vice versa. Hormone function may also vary with individuals. Sex is a biological classification and gender has been described as a more social construct pertaining to identity. Intersex traits are biological and therefore refers to sex, not gender identity. How many intersex people are there in the world? According to a 2016 report by the UN, between 0.05 and 1.7 percent of children are born with intersex conditions. For the upper level that's roughly the same born with red hair.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3681, "answer_start": 3195, "text": "\"Intersex\" is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with sexual anatomy that doesn't fit typical definitions of female or male. Doctors define the terms as disorders of sex development. There are more than 40 variations of intersex traits. Genitals could be ambiguous at birth, or they may become so at puberty. The individual may be anatomically or genetically male but appear female - or vice versa. Hormone function may also vary with individuals." } ], "id": "137_0", "question": "What is 'intersex'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Dutch rail infrastructure operator has defended its controversial \"fashion line\" featuring replicas of torn clothing worn by those killed and injured in railway accidents. ProRail launched \"Victim Fashion\" to encourage young people to be safer around railway lines. The campaign has faced backlash, with the Dutch infrastructure secretary saying it went too far. But ProRail told the BBC it was \"necessary\" amid rising fatalities. It says the number of people killed on and around railways has almost tripled since 2016, with 17 fatalities recorded last year. The \"fashion line\" features torn jackets, shirts, dresses and other items of clothing and is being promoted under the slogan \"Victim Fashion, made by accident\". The pieces are accompanied online by descriptions of what happened to the person wearing them. An image of a scuffed trainer has a caption explaining that a 14-year-old was reaching out for a phone she dropped on the track when a train hit her. Now almost 15, she is still in a coma. An orange dress was worn by a 15-year-old girl who followed her friends across the track while the barriers were closed and didn't see the train coming. Dutch infrastructure secretary Stientje van Veldhoven said the campaign was \"unnecessarily severe\", while the head of Dutch rail operator NS Marjan Rintel said it was important but not the right approach. \"I have expressed our surprise, displeasure and horror to the management of ProRail,\" she said. One train driver wrote on social media that the campaign had brought back memories of collisions. \"Wow, just wow. I've spent the past six months seeing a psychologist after my last collision and thought I was over it. Big mistake. Thanks very much,\" the train driver wrote. People claiming to be survivors of accidents have also hit out at the campaign. ProRail spokesperson Jaap Eikelboom said the \"confronting campaign\" was working. He told the BBC that ProRail spent around a year planning the action and knew it was going to be divisive. \"If you do a confronting campaign there are always people who find it negative and positive,\" he said. \"We think the campaign is working because people are discussing it. If we don't confront people with these kinds of pictures it's going to keep happening.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1161, "answer_start": 564, "text": "The \"fashion line\" features torn jackets, shirts, dresses and other items of clothing and is being promoted under the slogan \"Victim Fashion, made by accident\". The pieces are accompanied online by descriptions of what happened to the person wearing them. An image of a scuffed trainer has a caption explaining that a 14-year-old was reaching out for a phone she dropped on the track when a train hit her. Now almost 15, she is still in a coma. An orange dress was worn by a 15-year-old girl who followed her friends across the track while the barriers were closed and didn't see the train coming." } ], "id": "138_0", "question": "What is the campaign?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1816, "answer_start": 1162, "text": "Dutch infrastructure secretary Stientje van Veldhoven said the campaign was \"unnecessarily severe\", while the head of Dutch rail operator NS Marjan Rintel said it was important but not the right approach. \"I have expressed our surprise, displeasure and horror to the management of ProRail,\" she said. One train driver wrote on social media that the campaign had brought back memories of collisions. \"Wow, just wow. I've spent the past six months seeing a psychologist after my last collision and thought I was over it. Big mistake. Thanks very much,\" the train driver wrote. People claiming to be survivors of accidents have also hit out at the campaign." } ], "id": "138_1", "question": "What criticism has there been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2263, "answer_start": 1817, "text": "ProRail spokesperson Jaap Eikelboom said the \"confronting campaign\" was working. He told the BBC that ProRail spent around a year planning the action and knew it was going to be divisive. \"If you do a confronting campaign there are always people who find it negative and positive,\" he said. \"We think the campaign is working because people are discussing it. If we don't confront people with these kinds of pictures it's going to keep happening.\"" } ], "id": "138_2", "question": "What does Dutch rail say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A massive $750m (PS473m) Chinese-built oil rig, the Scarabeo 9, is due to arrive in Cuba before the end of the year, to begin drilling a series of exploratory wells. A whole range of international oil companies from Spain, Norway, Russia, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Canada, Angola, Venezuela, and China - but not the US - are lining up to hire the rig and search for what are believed to be substantial oil deposits. \"We will drill several wells next year and I'm sure we will have discoveries. It is not a matter of if we have oil, it is a matter of when we are going to start producing,\" Rafael Tenreiro, head of exploration for the Cuban state-owned oil company Cupet, confidently predicts. The Spanish company Repsol will be the first to drill, with an exploratory well in extremely deep water just 50 miles (80km) off the coast of Florida. It has sent alarm bells ringing in the United States because if there were an accident, the ocean currents would push any oil spill onto Florida's beaches and the Everglades. Yet under the US trade embargo, neither American firms nor the Coast Guard could come to Cuba's assistance or provide much needed equipment such as booms, pumps, skimmers and oil dispersant systems. The Cubans would need to turn to the Norwegians, British or Brazilians for help. \"In the event of a disaster we are talking a response time in terms of equipment of four to six weeks as opposed to 36 or 48 hours. This is a serious impediment,\" warned Lee Hunt, president of the Texas-based International Association of Drilling Contractors. Mr Hunt was part of a team of oil industry and environmental experts who were given permission by the Obama administration to visit Cuba to discuss safety issues with the authorities in Havana. Leading the group was William Reilly, a former head of the US Environmental Protection Agency and co-author of the government report into last year's BP oil disaster. He was impressed with Cuba's awareness of the risks and knowledge of the latest international safety measures. The explosion and blow-out aboard BP's Deepwater Horizon rig off the coast of Louisiana killed 11 people and spilled 5m barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. It was one of the worst environmental disasters ever to hit the Gulf Coast. It took 85 days to cap the well head, which was 5,500 feet beneath the surface. The Scarabeo 9 will be drilling in even deeper water. After his talks with Cuban officials, William Reilly said he found them serious about safety and aware of international best practice but lacking in experience. He wants to see the US co-operate with Cuba on safety issues and ease the embargo to allow US companies to assist in case of an emergency. \"It is profoundly in the interests of the United States to prepare the Cubans as best we can to ensure that we are protected in the case of a spill. We need to make it 'Key West safe'.\" But Florida's powerful Cuban-American lobby has other ideas and with the 2012 presidential election looming, Barack Obama is in a difficult position. The anti-Castro groups want the administration to take action to halt the drilling altogether and not just for safety reasons. A major oil find would make this communist-run Caribbean island financially independent for the first time since the revolution in 1959. For more than half a century Cuba has been dependent on the largesse of its ideological allies. First it was subsidised by the Soviet Union, then more recently Venezuela and, to a lesser extent, China. Cuba has long produced some oil from a series of small onshore and coastal deposits. Tourists going from Havana to the beach resort of Varadero drive past several kilometres of nodding donkeys and the occasional Chinese or Canadian drilling rig. Cuba currently produces about 53,000 barrels of oil a day but still needs to import about 100,000 barrels, mainly from Venezuela. Its deep territorial waters, though, lie on the same geological strata as oil rich Mexico and the US Gulf. Estimates on just how much offshore oil Cuba is sitting on vary. A US Geological Survey estimate suggests 4.6bn barrels, the Cubans say 20bn. Even the most conservative estimate would make Cuba a net oil exporter. A large find would provide untold riches. It is one of the US-based anti-Castro lobby's worst nightmares. \"The decaying Cuban regime is desperately reaching out for an economic lifeline, and it appears to have found a willing partner in Repsol to come to its rescue,\" Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Cuban-born Republican and Chairwoman of the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement recently. The Florida Congresswoman and a group of 33 other legislators, both Republican and Democrat, wrote to Repsol warning the company that the drilling could subject the company to \"criminal and civil liability in US courts\". Repsol responded saying that its exploratory wells complied with all current US legislation covering the embargo as well as all safety regulations. It has also agreed to allow US officials to conduct a safety inspection of the Chinese rig before it enters Cuban waters. Under the embargo it is limited to just 10% American technology. The rig was fitted in Singapore and the one piece of US equipment which was installed was the blow-out preventer. It was the failure of BP's blow-out preventer which was at the heart of that disaster. According to Lee Hunt, the Scarabeo 9 is a state of the art deep-water rig and there are six similar platforms built at the same Chinese shipyard currently operating in US waters. For the moment environmental concerns appear to be taking precedence over politics. The government will take up Repsol's offer to inspect Scarabeo 9 and a limited number of licences have been issued to US clean-up operators to enter Cuban waters and assist in the event of a spill. But the arguments are far from over as environmentalists are pushing for greater co-operation while Cuban-American groups are looking at ways to place legal and legislative hurdles in the way.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6023, "answer_start": 3037, "text": "The anti-Castro groups want the administration to take action to halt the drilling altogether and not just for safety reasons. A major oil find would make this communist-run Caribbean island financially independent for the first time since the revolution in 1959. For more than half a century Cuba has been dependent on the largesse of its ideological allies. First it was subsidised by the Soviet Union, then more recently Venezuela and, to a lesser extent, China. Cuba has long produced some oil from a series of small onshore and coastal deposits. Tourists going from Havana to the beach resort of Varadero drive past several kilometres of nodding donkeys and the occasional Chinese or Canadian drilling rig. Cuba currently produces about 53,000 barrels of oil a day but still needs to import about 100,000 barrels, mainly from Venezuela. Its deep territorial waters, though, lie on the same geological strata as oil rich Mexico and the US Gulf. Estimates on just how much offshore oil Cuba is sitting on vary. A US Geological Survey estimate suggests 4.6bn barrels, the Cubans say 20bn. Even the most conservative estimate would make Cuba a net oil exporter. A large find would provide untold riches. It is one of the US-based anti-Castro lobby's worst nightmares. \"The decaying Cuban regime is desperately reaching out for an economic lifeline, and it appears to have found a willing partner in Repsol to come to its rescue,\" Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Cuban-born Republican and Chairwoman of the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement recently. The Florida Congresswoman and a group of 33 other legislators, both Republican and Democrat, wrote to Repsol warning the company that the drilling could subject the company to \"criminal and civil liability in US courts\". Repsol responded saying that its exploratory wells complied with all current US legislation covering the embargo as well as all safety regulations. It has also agreed to allow US officials to conduct a safety inspection of the Chinese rig before it enters Cuban waters. Under the embargo it is limited to just 10% American technology. The rig was fitted in Singapore and the one piece of US equipment which was installed was the blow-out preventer. It was the failure of BP's blow-out preventer which was at the heart of that disaster. According to Lee Hunt, the Scarabeo 9 is a state of the art deep-water rig and there are six similar platforms built at the same Chinese shipyard currently operating in US waters. For the moment environmental concerns appear to be taking precedence over politics. The government will take up Repsol's offer to inspect Scarabeo 9 and a limited number of licences have been issued to US clean-up operators to enter Cuban waters and assist in the event of a spill. But the arguments are far from over as environmentalists are pushing for greater co-operation while Cuban-American groups are looking at ways to place legal and legislative hurdles in the way." } ], "id": "139_0", "question": "Oil windfall?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "When the University of Birmingham revealed that it had fragments from one of the world's oldest Korans, it made headlines around the world. In terms of discoveries, it seemed as unlikely as it was remarkable. But it raised even bigger questions about the origins of this ancient manuscript. And there are now suggestions from the Middle East that the discovery could be even more spectacularly significant than had been initially realised. There are claims that these could be fragments from the very first complete version of the Koran, commissioned by Abu Bakr, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad - and that it is \"the most important discovery ever for the Muslim world\". This is a global jigsaw puzzle. But some of the pieces have fallen into place. It seems likely the fragments in Birmingham, at least 1,370 years old, were once held in Egypt's oldest mosque, the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As in Fustat. This is because academics are increasingly confident the Birmingham manuscript has an exact match in the National Library of France, the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. The library points to the expertise of Francois Deroche, historian of the Koran and academic at the College de France, and he confirms the pages in Paris are part of the same Koran as Birmingham's. Alba Fedeli, the researcher who first identified the manuscript in Birmingham, is also sure it is the same as the fragments in Paris. The significance is that the origin of the manuscript in Paris is known to have been the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As in Fustat. The French part of this manuscript was brought to Europe by Asselin de Cherville, who served as a vice consul in Egypt when the country was under the control of Napoleon's armies in the early 19th Century. Prof Deroche says Asselin de Cherville's widow seemed to have tried to sell this and other ancient Islamic manuscripts to the British Library in the 1820s, but they ended up in the national library in Paris, where they have remained ever since. But if some of this Koran went to Paris, what happened to the pages now in Birmingham? Prof Deroche says later in the 19th Century manuscripts were transferred from the mosque in Fustat to the national library in Cairo. Along the way, \"some folios must have been spirited away\" and entered the antiquities market. These were presumably sold and re-sold, until in the 1920s they were acquired by Alphonse Mingana and brought to Birmingham. Mingana was an Assyrian, from what is now modern-day Iraq, whose collecting trips to the Middle East were funded by the Cadbury family. \"Of course, no official traces of this episode were left, but it should explain how Mingana got some leaves from the Fustat trove,\" says Prof Deroche, who holds the legion of honour for his academic work. And tantalisingly, he says other similar material, sold to western collectors could, still come to light. But what remains much more contentious is the dating of the manuscript in Birmingham. What was really startling about the Birmingham discovery was its early date, with radiocarbon testing putting it between 568 and 645. The latest date in the range is 13 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632. David Thomas, Birmingham University's professor of Christianity and Islam, explained how much this puts the manuscript into the earliest years of Islam: \"The person who actually wrote it could well have known the Prophet Muhammad.\" But the early date contradicts the findings of academics who have based their analysis on the style of the text. Mustafa Shah, from the Islamic studies department at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, says the \"graphical evidence\", such as how the verses are separated and the grammatical marks, show this is from a later date. In this early form of Arabic, writing styles developed and grammatical rules changed, and Dr Shah says the Birmingham manuscript is simply inconsistent with such an early date. Prof Deroche also says he has \"reservations\" about radiocarbon dating and there have been cases where manuscripts with known dates have been tested and the results have been incorrect. But staff at Oxford University's Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, which dated the parchment, are convinced their findings are correct, no matter how inconvenient. Researcher David Chivall says the accuracy of dating has improved in recent years, with a much more reliable approach to removing contamination from samples. In the case of the Birmingham Koran, Mr Chivall says the latter half of the age range is more likely, but the overall range is accurate to a probability of 95%. It is the same level of confidence given to the dating of the bones of Richard III, also tested at the Oxford laboratory. \"We're as confident as we can be that the dates are accurate.\" And academic opinions can change. Dr Shah says until the 1990s the dominant academic view in the West was that there was no complete written version of the Koran until the 8th Century. But researchers have since overturned this consensus, proving it \"completely wrong\" and providing more support for the traditional Muslim account of the history of the Koran. The corresponding manuscript in Paris, which could help to settle the argument about dates, has not been radiocarbon tested. But if the dating of the Birmingham manuscript is correct what does it mean? There are only two leaves in Birmingham, but Prof Thomas says the complete collection would have been about 200 separate leaves. \"It would have been a monumental piece of work,\" he said. And it raises questions about who would have commissioned the Koran and been able to mobilise the resources to produce it. Jamal bin Huwareib, managing director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, an education foundation set up by the ruler of the UAE, says the evidence points to an even more remarkable conclusion. He believes the manuscript in Birmingham is part of the first comprehensive written version of the Koran assembled by Abu Bakr, the Muslim caliph who ruled between 632 and 634. \"It's the most important discovery ever for the Muslim world,\" says Mr bin Huwareib, who has visited Birmingham to examine the manuscript. \"I believe this is the Koran of Abu Bakr.\" He says the high quality of the hand writing and the parchment show this was a prestigious work created for someone important - and the radiocarbon dating shows it is from the earliest days of Islam. \"This version, this collection, this manuscript is the root of Islam, it's the root of the Koran,\" says Mr bin Huwareib. \"This will be a revolution in studying Islam.\" This would be an unprecedented find. Prof Thomas says the dating fits this theory but \"it's a very big leap indeed\". There are other possibilities. The radiocarbon dating is based on the death of the animal whose skin was used for the parchment, not when the writing was completed, which means the manuscript could be a few years later than the age range ending in 645, with Prof Thomas suggesting possible dates of 650 to 655. This would overlap with the production of copies of the Koran during the rule of the caliph Uthman, between 644 and 656, which were intended to produce an accurate, standardised version to be sent to Muslim communities. If the Birmingham manuscript was a fragment of one of these copies it would also be a spectacular outcome. It's not possible to definitively prove or disprove such theories. But Joseph Lumbard, professor in the department of Arabic and translation studies at the American University of Sharjah, says if the early dating is correct then nothing should be ruled out. \"I would not discount that it could be a fragment from the codex collected by Zayd ibn Thabit under Abu Bakr. \"I would not discount that it could be a copy of the Uthmanic codex. \"I would not discount Deroche's argument either, he is such a leader in this field,\" says Prof Lumbard. He also warns of evidence being cherry-picked to support experts' preferred views. BBC iWonder: The Quran A timeline of how the Quran became part of British life Prof Thomas says there could also have been copies made from copies and perhaps the Birmingham manuscript is from a copy made specially for the mosque in Fustat. Jamal bin Huwaireb sees the discovery of such a \"priceless manuscript\" in the UK, rather than a Muslim country, as sending a message of mutual tolerance between religions. \"We need to respect each other, work together, we don't need conflict.\" But don't expect any end to the arguments over this ancient document. More stories from the BBC's Knowledge economy series looking at education from a global perspective and how to get in touch", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6706, "answer_start": 5268, "text": "But if the dating of the Birmingham manuscript is correct what does it mean? There are only two leaves in Birmingham, but Prof Thomas says the complete collection would have been about 200 separate leaves. \"It would have been a monumental piece of work,\" he said. And it raises questions about who would have commissioned the Koran and been able to mobilise the resources to produce it. Jamal bin Huwareib, managing director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, an education foundation set up by the ruler of the UAE, says the evidence points to an even more remarkable conclusion. He believes the manuscript in Birmingham is part of the first comprehensive written version of the Koran assembled by Abu Bakr, the Muslim caliph who ruled between 632 and 634. \"It's the most important discovery ever for the Muslim world,\" says Mr bin Huwareib, who has visited Birmingham to examine the manuscript. \"I believe this is the Koran of Abu Bakr.\" He says the high quality of the hand writing and the parchment show this was a prestigious work created for someone important - and the radiocarbon dating shows it is from the earliest days of Islam. \"This version, this collection, this manuscript is the root of Islam, it's the root of the Koran,\" says Mr bin Huwareib. \"This will be a revolution in studying Islam.\" This would be an unprecedented find. Prof Thomas says the dating fits this theory but \"it's a very big leap indeed\"." } ], "id": "140_0", "question": "The first Koran?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The situation in northern Mozambique is worse than thought, a UN spokesman says, days after Cyclone Kenneth ravaged the country. The system struck the Africa nation on Thursday with winds of 220km/h (140mph) which flattened whole villages. Around 700,000 people are now thought to be at risk in the area as torrential rains continue. Pemba, regional capital of Cabo Delgado state, has experienced more than 2m (6.5ft) of rain and flooding. Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) spokesman Saviano Abreu said the situation in the towns of Macomia and Quissanga was critical, adding that there were also worries for the cut-off island of Ibo. Waves up to 4m high are expected, and aid agencies fear rains will worsen. \"We are very worried because, according to the forecasts, heavy rain is expected for the next four days,\" Deborah Nguyen, UN World Food Programme spokeswoman, told AFP news agency. \"We expect the rainfall to be twice as much as that which accompanied Cyclone Idai,\" she added. Cyclone Idai killed more than 900 people across three countries in March this year. Pemba is thought to be home to about 400,000 people, and the heavy rains have placed many in danger. Landslides are a growing worry in the city's Mahate neighbourhood, regional Ocha authorities said, while in the Natite neighbourhood houses have started to collapse. The World Food Programme has reportedly begun giving out rations to stranded people, but destroyed roads have forced operations to end in the most isolated areas. At least five people have died as a result of the cyclone, and nearly 35,000 homes have been badly damaged or destroyed, national authorities say. Brazilian rescue teams rescued about 350 people from flooded parts of the city on Sunday. This satellite image shows the cyclone over northern Mozambique and Tanzania on Friday night. On Sunday a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was \"deeply saddened\" by the impact of Cyclone Kenneth. UN agencies are aiding local authorities, and Mr Guterres appealed for \"additional resources\" from the international community \"to fund the response in the immediate, medium and longer term\". Cabo Delgado province is not as densely populated as the area hit by Cyclone Idai, and there is apparently more high ground there. That, in addition to warnings by authorities ahead of the storm, could significantly stem losses compared with Cyclone Idai. But reports said many thousands of homes had been flattened by the winds, and the area has been hit by militant Islamist violence in recent months, which could complicate humanitarian operations. Thousands of people had already fled their homes to seek shelter from violence in camps for displaced people.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2178, "answer_start": 1098, "text": "Pemba is thought to be home to about 400,000 people, and the heavy rains have placed many in danger. Landslides are a growing worry in the city's Mahate neighbourhood, regional Ocha authorities said, while in the Natite neighbourhood houses have started to collapse. The World Food Programme has reportedly begun giving out rations to stranded people, but destroyed roads have forced operations to end in the most isolated areas. At least five people have died as a result of the cyclone, and nearly 35,000 homes have been badly damaged or destroyed, national authorities say. Brazilian rescue teams rescued about 350 people from flooded parts of the city on Sunday. This satellite image shows the cyclone over northern Mozambique and Tanzania on Friday night. On Sunday a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was \"deeply saddened\" by the impact of Cyclone Kenneth. UN agencies are aiding local authorities, and Mr Guterres appealed for \"additional resources\" from the international community \"to fund the response in the immediate, medium and longer term\"." } ], "id": "141_0", "question": "What's the latest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2740, "answer_start": 2179, "text": "Cabo Delgado province is not as densely populated as the area hit by Cyclone Idai, and there is apparently more high ground there. That, in addition to warnings by authorities ahead of the storm, could significantly stem losses compared with Cyclone Idai. But reports said many thousands of homes had been flattened by the winds, and the area has been hit by militant Islamist violence in recent months, which could complicate humanitarian operations. Thousands of people had already fled their homes to seek shelter from violence in camps for displaced people." } ], "id": "141_1", "question": "What is the affected area like?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The case of Gammy, a baby with Down's syndrome who was born to a Thai surrogate mother and allegedly left behind by the intended Australian parents, has caused international controversy. Where do people go to arrange for surrogate babies, and is it legal? Surrogacy is where a woman becomes pregnant with the intention of handing over the child to someone else after giving birth. Generally, she carries the baby for a couple or parent who cannot conceive a child themselves - they are known as \"intended parents\". There are two forms of surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother's egg is used, making her the genetic mother. In gestational surrogacy, the egg is provided by the intended mother or a donor. The egg is fertilised through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and then placed inside the surrogate mother. It varies from country to country. Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria prohibit all forms of surrogacy. In countries including the UK, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium, surrogacy is allowed where the surrogate mother is not paid, or only paid for reasonable expenses. Paying the mother a fee (known as commercial surrogacy) is prohibited. Commercial surrogacy is legal in some US states, and countries including India, Russia and Ukraine. People who want to be parents may go abroad if their home country does not allow surrogacy, or if they cannot find a surrogate. However, even here, the laws may vary. For example, some Australian states have criminalised going to another country for commercial surrogacy, while others permit it. Experts say that countries popular with parents for surrogacy arrangements are the US, India, Thailand, Ukraine and Russia. Mexico, Nepal, Poland and Georgia are also among the countries described as possibilities for surrogacy arrangements. Costs vary significantly from country to country, and also depend on the number of IVF cycles needed, and whether health insurance is required. Families Through Surrogacy, an international non-profit surrogacy organisation, has estimated the approximate average costs in different countries: - US - $100,000 (PS60,000) - India - $47,350 - Thailand - $52,000 - Ukraine - $49,950 - Georgia - $49,950 - Mexico - $45,000 There are few statistics on how many children are born through surrogacy arrangements, as many countries do not formally record this. Nicola Scott, a lawyer with UK family law firm Natalie Gamble Associates, says that about 25% of her firm's clients go to the US, often because they feel it is safer. \"The US has a very long history of surrogacy. One reason is that the parents know there are established frameworks in many states, particularly California, so there is safety associated with going there,\" she says. Why do women become surrogate mothers? Sarah Wisniewski, Surrogacy UK We're aware of how, just taking a year out of our lives can drastically help someone else's life. The majority of us have our own children, although a couple of the surrogate mothers in our network are childless. We appreciate and are grateful for our own children too - the majority of us just see pregnancy as something we find very easy - something we can do while getting on with our everyday lives. \"People who choose other destinations tend to do so because a surrogacy there typically costs a lot less than in the US.\" In many countries, \"surrogacy isn't illegal, but there's no framework to support it,\" Ms Scott says. For example, Thailand does not have clear regulations surrounding surrogacy. However, legislation has been drafted to regulate surrogacy, and authorities now say the surrogates must be a blood relative of the intended parents. Similarly, India is considering legislation which could \"massively restrict surrogacy\", Ms Scott says, and will \"shut the door to singles and gay couples\". There are no internationally recognised laws for surrogacy, so many parents and children can be left vulnerable - or even stateless. It can take several months to bring a surrogate baby back to the parents' home country, as they may not be automatically recognised as the legal parents. \"In Thailand, surrogates are seen as the legal mother, so if the parents leave the baby with the mother, she is legally responsible. This is one of the difficulties seen in the Gammy case,\" Ms Scott says. \"In India, the intended parents are seen as the legal parents,\" whereas under UK law, the surrogate mother is recognised as the legal mother. \"This means a surrogate baby born in India, for UK parents, is born stateless, and has to apply for British citizenship.\" Depending on the parents' legal status in their home country, things can also become difficult if the couple split up, Paul Beaumont, a Professor of EU and Private International Law at the University of Aberdeen, and author of the book International Surrogacy Arrangements, says. \"There can be an unfair advantage in a custody dispute. The father will often have parental rights, as the one who supplied the sperm, whereas, more often than not, the egg has been provided by a third party donor... so the mother may not be regarded as the parent of the child,\" Prof Beaumont says. Many experts argue that an international agreement, similar to the Hague Adoption Convention, is needed so that rules are consistent across different countries. However, this could be difficult since countries are divided in their views of surrogacy. Prof Beaumont argues that regulation is also needed to ensure that \"clinics are properly regulated and mothers are adequately compensated, given proper healthcare, and properly consenting\". Regulation would also ensure that \"the intending parents are considered suitable to be parents in their home country\", he adds. Without regulation, one potential risk for many surrogate mothers is that \"if the child is born with some kind of defect, the intending parents could abandon the child\", as has been claimed in the Gammy case. Although it is difficult to get hard evidence of exploitation, it is also possible that, like any potentially lucrative industry, surrogacy could be open to abuse, with women forced to act as surrogate mothers for profiteers, Prof Beaumont says. My experience with surrogacy: Richard Westoby, author of Our Journey: One Couple's Guide to US Surrogacy We chose to go to the US because my partner is American, and there is a legal framework in place in a lot of states that protects the surrogates, the intended parents, and the child. All the parties involved had legal representation - our surrogate had her own lawyer represent her when we were negotiating the contract. We spoke about the whole situation - what we were expecting regarding the number of embryos, caesareans, abortion - everything was discussed up front, so everyone was fully informed. It's so important that people have the whole picture before it starts. So many things can and do go wrong if you're not properly counselled and guided through the process. Surrogates don't get a huge amount of money. I think surrogates are phenomenal women going through the process because they want to help other people enrich their lives with family. My partner was in the room when the twins were born. It's the same as when any parent meets their child for the first time - there were lots of tears. It was indescribable. There's nothing like when your children open their eyes for the first time. It was an incredible feeling. Our surrogate is part of our life now - we email regularly and she comes to the UK to see the children.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 826, "answer_start": 256, "text": "Surrogacy is where a woman becomes pregnant with the intention of handing over the child to someone else after giving birth. Generally, she carries the baby for a couple or parent who cannot conceive a child themselves - they are known as \"intended parents\". There are two forms of surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother's egg is used, making her the genetic mother. In gestational surrogacy, the egg is provided by the intended mother or a donor. The egg is fertilised through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and then placed inside the surrogate mother." } ], "id": "142_0", "question": "What is surrogacy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1592, "answer_start": 827, "text": "It varies from country to country. Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria prohibit all forms of surrogacy. In countries including the UK, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium, surrogacy is allowed where the surrogate mother is not paid, or only paid for reasonable expenses. Paying the mother a fee (known as commercial surrogacy) is prohibited. Commercial surrogacy is legal in some US states, and countries including India, Russia and Ukraine. People who want to be parents may go abroad if their home country does not allow surrogacy, or if they cannot find a surrogate. However, even here, the laws may vary. For example, some Australian states have criminalised going to another country for commercial surrogacy, while others permit it." } ], "id": "142_1", "question": "Is surrogacy legal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2767, "answer_start": 1593, "text": "Experts say that countries popular with parents for surrogacy arrangements are the US, India, Thailand, Ukraine and Russia. Mexico, Nepal, Poland and Georgia are also among the countries described as possibilities for surrogacy arrangements. Costs vary significantly from country to country, and also depend on the number of IVF cycles needed, and whether health insurance is required. Families Through Surrogacy, an international non-profit surrogacy organisation, has estimated the approximate average costs in different countries: - US - $100,000 (PS60,000) - India - $47,350 - Thailand - $52,000 - Ukraine - $49,950 - Georgia - $49,950 - Mexico - $45,000 There are few statistics on how many children are born through surrogacy arrangements, as many countries do not formally record this. Nicola Scott, a lawyer with UK family law firm Natalie Gamble Associates, says that about 25% of her firm's clients go to the US, often because they feel it is safer. \"The US has a very long history of surrogacy. One reason is that the parents know there are established frameworks in many states, particularly California, so there is safety associated with going there,\" she says." } ], "id": "142_2", "question": "Where do people go for surrogacy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5434, "answer_start": 3848, "text": "There are no internationally recognised laws for surrogacy, so many parents and children can be left vulnerable - or even stateless. It can take several months to bring a surrogate baby back to the parents' home country, as they may not be automatically recognised as the legal parents. \"In Thailand, surrogates are seen as the legal mother, so if the parents leave the baby with the mother, she is legally responsible. This is one of the difficulties seen in the Gammy case,\" Ms Scott says. \"In India, the intended parents are seen as the legal parents,\" whereas under UK law, the surrogate mother is recognised as the legal mother. \"This means a surrogate baby born in India, for UK parents, is born stateless, and has to apply for British citizenship.\" Depending on the parents' legal status in their home country, things can also become difficult if the couple split up, Paul Beaumont, a Professor of EU and Private International Law at the University of Aberdeen, and author of the book International Surrogacy Arrangements, says. \"There can be an unfair advantage in a custody dispute. The father will often have parental rights, as the one who supplied the sperm, whereas, more often than not, the egg has been provided by a third party donor... so the mother may not be regarded as the parent of the child,\" Prof Beaumont says. Many experts argue that an international agreement, similar to the Hague Adoption Convention, is needed so that rules are consistent across different countries. However, this could be difficult since countries are divided in their views of surrogacy." } ], "id": "142_3", "question": "What are the complications?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6207, "answer_start": 5435, "text": "Prof Beaumont argues that regulation is also needed to ensure that \"clinics are properly regulated and mothers are adequately compensated, given proper healthcare, and properly consenting\". Regulation would also ensure that \"the intending parents are considered suitable to be parents in their home country\", he adds. Without regulation, one potential risk for many surrogate mothers is that \"if the child is born with some kind of defect, the intending parents could abandon the child\", as has been claimed in the Gammy case. Although it is difficult to get hard evidence of exploitation, it is also possible that, like any potentially lucrative industry, surrogacy could be open to abuse, with women forced to act as surrogate mothers for profiteers, Prof Beaumont says." } ], "id": "142_4", "question": "Are there risks for surrogate mothers?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than 70 MPs and peers have signed a letter urging the home secretary to ensure Julian Assange faces authorities in Sweden if they want his extradition. The Wikileaks founder, who is now in UK custody, was arrested on Thursday after years in Ecuador's London embassy. Sweden is considering whether to reopen an investigation into rape and sexual assault allegations against him. And the US is seeking his extradition in relation to one of the largest ever leaks of government secrets, in 2010. The whistle-blowing website Wikileaks has published thousands of classified documents covering everything from the film industry to national security and war. Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied. At the time, the Australian-born 47-year-old said he had had entirely consensual sex with two women while on a trip to Stockholm, and that the Swedish claims against him were part of a smear campaign. Swedish prosecutors dropped a rape investigation into Assange in 2017 because they were unable to formally notify him of allegations while he stayed in the embassy. Two other charges of molestation and unlawful coercion had to be dropped in 2015 because time had run out. But Swedish prosecutors say they are now re-examining Assange's case at the request of the lawyer acting for the alleged rape victim. In their letter to Sajid Javid, 70 parliamentarians - chiefly Labour MPs and peers - urged him to \"stand with the victims of sexual violence\" and ensure the rape claim against the Wikileaks founder could be \"properly investigated\". \"We do not presume guilt, of course, but we believe due process should be followed and the complainant should see justice be done,\" the letter said. Labour's Stella Creasy tweeted a copy of the letter sent to Mr Javid. The same letter was also sent to shadow home secretary Diane Abbott. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said the UK government should not extradite Julian Assange to the US. But speaking on Saturday, Mr Corbyn said he had made it \"very clear all along that if there are allegations which Julian Assange needs to answer, of sexual issues, sexual attacks that may or may not have taken place in Sweden, then it's a matter for the courts to decide - but I do think he should answer those questions\". He added: \"My objection was to his extradition to the United States because I do believe that Wikileaks told us the truth about what was actually happening in Afghanistan and in Iraq.\" The Labour leader said it was now for Sweden to put forward proposals on the matter. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry also said on Friday she was \"disgusted\" the US allegation had been \"allowed to eclipse\" the sex offence case. One of the letter's signatories, Stephen Kinnock, told the BBC the events surrounding Assange had \"become politicised\", and that the letter was intended \"to underline the point that first and foremost Mr Assange is accused of rape and sexual violence in Sweden\". \"It is vital that doesn't get airbrushed out of the conversation.\" Assange was dramatically arrested by UK police on Thursday after Ecuador abruptly withdrew its asylum. Westminster Magistrates' Court found him guilty of a charge of breaching bail later that day. He faces up to 12 months in prison for that conviction. The letter from parliamentarians says both UK and US authorities seem to have been aware in advance of Ecuador's decision to rescind Mr Assange's political asylum, but said it was a matter of \"grave concern\" that Swedish authorities did not appear to be aware of the impending arrest. The United States alleges that Assange conspired with former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to access classified information on Department of Defense computers. Documents published by Wikileaks relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed how the US military had killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents. The US has already charged Assange with a single count of participating in the hacking of intelligence computers to reveal controversial intelligence operations in the United States. If found guilty, Assange could be jailed for up to five years. Extradition proceedings are dealt with by the courts. According to the Home Office, the home secretary can bring a limited number of factors into consideration when deciding whether to order a person's extradition. These include whether the person might be at risk of the death penalty or whether the requesting state might try to add additional charges it has not specified. Lawyer Rebecca Niblock said that, if Sweden made an extradition request, it would be for the home secretary to decide which would take precedence, considering factors such as which was made first and the seriousness of the offence. The rape allegation in Sweden has a limitation period which expires in August 2020; inquiries into claims of molestation and unlawful coercion have already been timed out. Assange is due to face a hearing over his possible extradition to the US on 2 May. His lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, said they would be fighting the extradition request. She said it set a \"dangerous precedent\" for journalists publishing information about the US. The UN has called for his right to a fair trial to be respected during any extradition process.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5364, "answer_start": 4229, "text": "Extradition proceedings are dealt with by the courts. According to the Home Office, the home secretary can bring a limited number of factors into consideration when deciding whether to order a person's extradition. These include whether the person might be at risk of the death penalty or whether the requesting state might try to add additional charges it has not specified. Lawyer Rebecca Niblock said that, if Sweden made an extradition request, it would be for the home secretary to decide which would take precedence, considering factors such as which was made first and the seriousness of the offence. The rape allegation in Sweden has a limitation period which expires in August 2020; inquiries into claims of molestation and unlawful coercion have already been timed out. Assange is due to face a hearing over his possible extradition to the US on 2 May. His lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, said they would be fighting the extradition request. She said it set a \"dangerous precedent\" for journalists publishing information about the US. The UN has called for his right to a fair trial to be respected during any extradition process." } ], "id": "143_0", "question": "What happens next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The glaciers that flank the Himalayas and other high mountains in Asia are moving slower over time. Scientists have analysed nearly 20 years of satellite images to come to this conclusion. They show that the ice streams which have decelerated the most are the ones that have also thinned the most. The research has implications for the 800 million people in the region for whom the predictable meltwater from these glaciers is a key resource. The study is being presented at this week's American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in Washington DC - the world's largest annual gathering of Earth and space scientists. Led by the US space agency (Nasa), the assessment draws on one million pairs of pictures acquired by the Landsat-7 spacecraft between 2000 and 2017. Automated software was used to track surface features on glaciers in 11 areas of High Mountain Asia, from Pamir and Hindu Kush in the West, to Nyainqentanglha and inner Tibet and China in the East. As the markers were observed to shift downslope, they revealed the changing speed of the ice streams. The research team, headed by Dr Amaury Dehecq from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says nine of the surveyed regions show a sustained slowdown during the study period. Nyainqentanglha, for example, has seen a 37% reduction in speed per decade. For Spiti Lahaul, it is 34% - equivalent to about -5m/year per decade. These are glaciers that would normally move at tens of metres per year. Perhaps the major revelation is that the reduction in velocity is strongly correlated with thinning. Nyainqentanglha's glaciers have been thinning on average by about 60cm a year; Spiti Lahaul's glaciers are losing thickness at a rate of roughly 40cm a year. \"The reason a glacier flows is because of gravity,\" explained Dr Dehecq. \"Under its weight, the glacier slides across its bed and deforms, but as it thins it finds it more difficult to slide and deform; it's kind of intuitive. \"But until now there had been some debate as to whether other factors were influencing speed, such as the lubrication of the bed as a result of increased meltwater getting under the glacier. Well, we show thinning is actually the dominant factor,\" he told BBC News. The slowdown trend is strongest in the south and southeast of High Mountain Asia; it is less pronounced in the West. Regions like the Karakorum in Pakistan, and Kunlun just across the border in Tibet/China, have actually shown a slight thickening over time and a marginal speed-up as a consequence. \"That's the influence of different climatic conditions,\" said co-author Dr Noel Gourmelen from Edinburgh University, UK. \"Precipitation in the East is affected by the Asian monsoon and in the West and North-West, it is delivered by westerlies; although it's not exactly clear why the Karakorum has been gaining mass.\" The meltwater that flows from the 90,000 glaciers in High Mountain Asia is critical to the lives and livelihoods of the people downstream. But the significance goes much wider, because the snow and ice stored \"in the freezer\" at high altitude would otherwise push up global sea levels if it all melted and ran into the ocean. That is why scientists need to understand how the glaciers will respond in an ever-warming world. This study, which has also been published in the journal Nature Geoscience, has described an important dynamic that will moderate how much ice is transported down mountains to the elevations where it can melt. Computer models that try to project the future resilience of the glaciers in what they call Earth's \"third pole\" must now take account of this behaviour. Dr Hamish Pritchard from the British Antarctic Survey also studies these glaciers. He said their contribution to rivers across the region was small in the average year, but significantly heightened during years of drought. \"My research shows that when the summer rains fail, glacier melt comes to dominate water inputs to many catchments in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Without this water supply more crops would fail, substantially less hydropower would be generated and more people would be forced to migrate,\" he told BBC News. \"These rivers that flow down from the mountains pass through many communities and across national borders, so when supplies are low, tensions between neighbouring communities and countries would likely increase. \"Studies show that this tension could lead to conflict, with implications far beyond South and Central Asia. \"The key role of these glaciers then is as a buffer against the worst effects of drought, and so the loss of glacier ice can be seen as a threat to the future stability of the region.\" [email protected] and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1452, "answer_start": 615, "text": "Led by the US space agency (Nasa), the assessment draws on one million pairs of pictures acquired by the Landsat-7 spacecraft between 2000 and 2017. Automated software was used to track surface features on glaciers in 11 areas of High Mountain Asia, from Pamir and Hindu Kush in the West, to Nyainqentanglha and inner Tibet and China in the East. As the markers were observed to shift downslope, they revealed the changing speed of the ice streams. The research team, headed by Dr Amaury Dehecq from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says nine of the surveyed regions show a sustained slowdown during the study period. Nyainqentanglha, for example, has seen a 37% reduction in speed per decade. For Spiti Lahaul, it is 34% - equivalent to about -5m/year per decade. These are glaciers that would normally move at tens of metres per year." } ], "id": "144_0", "question": "How was the research done?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2204, "answer_start": 1453, "text": "Perhaps the major revelation is that the reduction in velocity is strongly correlated with thinning. Nyainqentanglha's glaciers have been thinning on average by about 60cm a year; Spiti Lahaul's glaciers are losing thickness at a rate of roughly 40cm a year. \"The reason a glacier flows is because of gravity,\" explained Dr Dehecq. \"Under its weight, the glacier slides across its bed and deforms, but as it thins it finds it more difficult to slide and deform; it's kind of intuitive. \"But until now there had been some debate as to whether other factors were influencing speed, such as the lubrication of the bed as a result of increased meltwater getting under the glacier. Well, we show thinning is actually the dominant factor,\" he told BBC News." } ], "id": "144_1", "question": "What was the key finding?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2821, "answer_start": 2205, "text": "The slowdown trend is strongest in the south and southeast of High Mountain Asia; it is less pronounced in the West. Regions like the Karakorum in Pakistan, and Kunlun just across the border in Tibet/China, have actually shown a slight thickening over time and a marginal speed-up as a consequence. \"That's the influence of different climatic conditions,\" said co-author Dr Noel Gourmelen from Edinburgh University, UK. \"Precipitation in the East is affected by the Asian monsoon and in the West and North-West, it is delivered by westerlies; although it's not exactly clear why the Karakorum has been gaining mass.\"" } ], "id": "144_2", "question": "Are some glaciers getting faster?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The son of Russian spies has spoken of his relief after a court decided to let him keep his Canadian citizenship. Alexander Vavilov had his citizenship revoked after his parents, who worked for Russia's foreign intelligence service, were arrested in 2010. He was born in Canada, and until their arrest he believed his parents were Canadian too. It is the first time he has spoken since Canada's Supreme Court ruled his citizenship was valid. \"I am who I am - whatever you learn about your heritage I don't think it defines you as a person,\" Mr Vavilov told the media in Toronto on Friday. He said the court victory was recognition that he not only feels like a Canadian, but is one in the eyes of the law. Mr Vavilov was born Alexander Foley in Toronto on 3 June 1994 to Tracey Lee Ann Foley and Donald Howard Heathfield - or so he thought. Their real names were Elena Vavilova and Andrey Bezrukov and they had moved to Canada using false identities, in order to establish a \"deep cover\" that would allow them to travel the world and spy for Russia's KGB. In Canada, they seemed like a normal, happy young family. Mr Vavilov's older brother Timothy was born just four years before, also in Toronto. At one point, his parents started up their own diaper delivery service. When he was two, the family moved to France and then later to the US, settling near Boston. That's where they were apprehended by the FBI in 2010, when Mr Vavilov was 16. They pleaded guilty and were deported to Russia in a spy swap in exchange for four Russians who had been imprisoned by Moscow for providing intelligence to the West. The family's story inspired the US television show The Americans, about two deep undercover Russian spies living and starting a family in the United States. Mr Vavilov said he watched the series - as have his parents who now live in Russia. \"On the one hand you can relate to some things, on the other it's Hollywood,\" he said. He has managed to heal the relationship with his parents in the years since their secret was revealed and his life turned upside down. His parents were motivated by patriotism, he said. \"Although I have suffered through all this, I understand why they did what they did.\" Shortly after his parents were apprehended in the US, Mr Vavilov's passport was not renewed, and his citizenship was revoked in 2014 by an official working for Canadian immigration. The government said that since his parents worked for a foreign government at the time of his birth, being born on Canadian soil was not enough to grant him citizenship. Thus began Mr Vavilov's long fight to restore his citizenship. Typically, being born in Canada grants a child automatic citizenship. But there are exceptions for the children of diplomats. The government said that exception should apply to him - Mr Vavilov's legal team disagreed. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that since his parents were not granted diplomatic status, his citizenship is valid. Since losing his Canadian citizenship, Mr Vavilov said he went to university in Europe and has worked in the Middle East and Asia. But he said he sometimes struggled to find employment because of his life story. \"I don't think people distrust me personally,\" he said. \"But I think people don't want to be tied to the association.\" Asked about his thoughts on Russia and its leadership, Mr Vavilov, who now also holds Russian citizenship, declined to comment. He told the media that he wants a future in Canada but his next steps depend on his prospects - he will move back for a good work opportunity. Thursday's court decision means his older brother Timothy will also keep his Canadian citizenship, though Mr Vavilov was not aware of his future plans. The Vavilov brothers have always maintained they were completely in the dark about their parents' spying activities. Various media reports have cited unnamed US officials suggesting that Timothy Vavilov's parents had revealed their identities to him and wanted him to follow in their footsteps. On Friday the younger Mr Vavilov dismissed those reports, saying they were untrue.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2207, "answer_start": 706, "text": "Mr Vavilov was born Alexander Foley in Toronto on 3 June 1994 to Tracey Lee Ann Foley and Donald Howard Heathfield - or so he thought. Their real names were Elena Vavilova and Andrey Bezrukov and they had moved to Canada using false identities, in order to establish a \"deep cover\" that would allow them to travel the world and spy for Russia's KGB. In Canada, they seemed like a normal, happy young family. Mr Vavilov's older brother Timothy was born just four years before, also in Toronto. At one point, his parents started up their own diaper delivery service. When he was two, the family moved to France and then later to the US, settling near Boston. That's where they were apprehended by the FBI in 2010, when Mr Vavilov was 16. They pleaded guilty and were deported to Russia in a spy swap in exchange for four Russians who had been imprisoned by Moscow for providing intelligence to the West. The family's story inspired the US television show The Americans, about two deep undercover Russian spies living and starting a family in the United States. Mr Vavilov said he watched the series - as have his parents who now live in Russia. \"On the one hand you can relate to some things, on the other it's Hollywood,\" he said. He has managed to heal the relationship with his parents in the years since their secret was revealed and his life turned upside down. His parents were motivated by patriotism, he said. \"Although I have suffered through all this, I understand why they did what they did.\"" } ], "id": "145_0", "question": "Who is he?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Thousands of people in Hong Kong have surrounded police headquarters, calling for an extradition bill to be scrapped. Police have asked the protesters to withdraw peacefully, saying their presence would \"seriously affect\" emergency services. Millions of people have marched against the bill in recent weeks, with violent clashes breaking out with police. The bill, which allows extradition to mainland China, has already been suspended. Critics say it would erode the judicial independence of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been part of China since 1997 under the \"one country, two systems\" principle, which allows it freedoms not seen in mainland China. The protest comes a day after the government ignored a deadline set by a group of students from various universities in Hong Kong, who called for the bill to be completely scrapped. Early on Friday people gathered outside the Legislative Council Complex, or government headquarters, but then moved to surround police headquarters. Among the protesters was student activist Joshua Wong, who became the face of pro-democracy protests in 2014. He was freed earlier this week after being jailed in May on contempt charges related to the 2014 demonstrations. In a tweet on Friday, Mr Wong called for police to drop charges against people arrested in the recent protests. Some protesters also moved to Hong Kong's Revenue Tower. The Labour Department said several services based in the building would be suspended for the afternoon. As demonstrators remained camped outside government buildings late on Friday, some sprayed water into the crowd in an attempt to keep cool while others sang songs. by Helier Cheung, BBC News, Hong Kong It is telling that many protesters have now dropped Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam's resignation from their list of demands - focusing instead on a complete withdrawal of the bill, revoking the term \"riot\" to describe the 12 June protests, releasing all detained activists, and investigating police violence. One 20-year-old protester, June, had snuck out to the protests despite her parents disapproval. She said she didn't think it was realistic to expect Carrie Lam to resign, but \"I really hope they release injured protesters and investigate their actions\". So far, there haven't been any violent clashes - some protesters threw eggs, but nothing harder, at uniformed police officers, while there were no riot police at the scene, perhaps in an attempt to defuse tensions. But the anger at the police was palpable as people chanted \"evil police\" and \"release them\", and attempted to block some entrances with steel barriers. The mass protests are against amendments to the extradition law that would allow suspects accused of criminal wrongdoing to be extradited to mainland China. This is significant because though Hong Kong is part of China, it keeps its own judicial independence, legislature and economic system. People fear that if the extradition bill passes, it would erode this judicial independence and bring Hong Kong more decisively under China's control. Critics of the bill, including lawyers and rights groups, also say it leaves people in Hong Kong exposed to China's justice system, which is marred by allegations of torture, forced confessions and arbitrary detentions. China has backed Ms Lam and the extradition bill throughout the unrest. Initially, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam remained defiant, saying the government had no intention of withdrawing the bill, despite widespread opposition. But in the face of mounting protests, and after violent clashes, she announced that the bill would be suspended and gave a public apology. She said the bill would not be revived until people's fears were addressed, and that it was \"very unlikely\" the government could pass the bill before the current legislative session expired next year. Ms Lam's latest move has done little to pacify the people, though the number of protesters coming out on the streets has dropped dramatically in recent days. Protesters want the bill to be completely scrapped, with no possibility that it might pass again in future after the protests have dissipated. They previously called for Carrie Lam, who is backed by Beijing, to step down. But after the violent clashes between police and protesters on 12 June, an investigation into police brutality has also become part of the demands. The protest saw riot police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, leading to some of the worst violence the territory has seen in decades. It led to rights group Human Rights Watch accusing the police of using \"excessive force\" against protesters. Amnesty International highlighted 14 instances of \"unnecessary and excessive\" force by police on 12 June, in what it called \"violations of international law.\" Some 72 people aged between 15 and 66 were injured in the violence, including two men who were in critical condition and some 21 police officers. Many on Friday were heard chanting \"shame on police thugs\" outside police headquarters. A total of 32 protesters were arrested, five of whom have been charged with rioting offences. Eight protesters have been released - but people are demanding police release the rest of them.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3339, "answer_start": 2605, "text": "The mass protests are against amendments to the extradition law that would allow suspects accused of criminal wrongdoing to be extradited to mainland China. This is significant because though Hong Kong is part of China, it keeps its own judicial independence, legislature and economic system. People fear that if the extradition bill passes, it would erode this judicial independence and bring Hong Kong more decisively under China's control. Critics of the bill, including lawyers and rights groups, also say it leaves people in Hong Kong exposed to China's justice system, which is marred by allegations of torture, forced confessions and arbitrary detentions. China has backed Ms Lam and the extradition bill throughout the unrest." } ], "id": "146_0", "question": "What is the extradition bill?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3831, "answer_start": 3340, "text": "Initially, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam remained defiant, saying the government had no intention of withdrawing the bill, despite widespread opposition. But in the face of mounting protests, and after violent clashes, she announced that the bill would be suspended and gave a public apology. She said the bill would not be revived until people's fears were addressed, and that it was \"very unlikely\" the government could pass the bill before the current legislative session expired next year." } ], "id": "146_1", "question": "What has the government said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5200, "answer_start": 3832, "text": "Ms Lam's latest move has done little to pacify the people, though the number of protesters coming out on the streets has dropped dramatically in recent days. Protesters want the bill to be completely scrapped, with no possibility that it might pass again in future after the protests have dissipated. They previously called for Carrie Lam, who is backed by Beijing, to step down. But after the violent clashes between police and protesters on 12 June, an investigation into police brutality has also become part of the demands. The protest saw riot police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, leading to some of the worst violence the territory has seen in decades. It led to rights group Human Rights Watch accusing the police of using \"excessive force\" against protesters. Amnesty International highlighted 14 instances of \"unnecessary and excessive\" force by police on 12 June, in what it called \"violations of international law.\" Some 72 people aged between 15 and 66 were injured in the violence, including two men who were in critical condition and some 21 police officers. Many on Friday were heard chanting \"shame on police thugs\" outside police headquarters. A total of 32 protesters were arrested, five of whom have been charged with rioting offences. Eight protesters have been released - but people are demanding police release the rest of them." } ], "id": "146_2", "question": "Why are people still angry?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "India's capital Delhi is battling one of its worst outbreaks of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus - with more than 1,000 cases reported across the city. The BBC's Ayeshea Perera explains the outbreak in Delhi and why chikungunya is worrying so many people. More than 1,000 cases of the illness have been registered in the city. Local media have reported that 10 people in the city have also died of chikungunya-related complications, although this is yet to be officially confirmed. The illness is largely non-lethal although the WHO says that in older people it can contribute to the cause of death. India's health minister JP Nadda told reporters that the government was investigating to see if the virus could be linked to the deaths, as many of those who died were already suffering from other illnesses such as kidney disease and high blood pressure. The larger problem, however, seems to be the effect the debilitating nature of the virus is having on the population of the city. The Indian Express newspaper reported that a number of public sector projects were missing important deadlines as the virus had severely depleted workforces. The report added that many migrant labourers from other Indian states - who make up the bulk of Delhi's construction workforce - have been forced to return home. This has also hit their personal incomes. Chikungunya also severely affects the quality of life of those who contract it - in many cases severe joint pains persist even after the fever has subsided. The Times of India wrote about the severe difficulties faced by one household where all 13 members of a family contracted the illness at the same time. It is unclear why Delhi has been so severely affected this year, but heavier than usual rainfall coupled with the large number of construction projects in the city could be a factor, as this can create many stagnant pools of water where mosquitoes can breed. Delhi also has a large number of open drains. The local government has been strongly criticised by media for what is being seen as a lax attitude to the outbreak. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is not in the city and the state health minister was ridiculed for saying the outbreak was a media creation. Following the outcry, the Indian government has asked local authorities to provide them with a detailed report about the situation. Federal health minister JP Nadda told reporters that they had also offered help in terms of providing more equipment and medicine to local officials but had been told the situation was under control. Chinkungunya is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that bite during daylight hours. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. The name derives from a word meaning \"to become contorted\" from the African Kimakonde language. Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever and joint pain, particularly affecting the hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Most patients recover after a few days but in some cases the joint pain may persist for weeks, months or even longer. Health officials advise wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers that minimises skin exposure, and to wear insect repellent at all times in areas where the mosquitoes involved are found. Two of the species most commonly involved in spreading the virus are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue. Check your home and work spaces for water-filled containers that can facilitate mosquito breeding. Make sure that bathrooms are completely dry and that toilet seats are kept down when not being used. Rooms should be fitted with screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering and use mosquito coils or other insecticide vaporisers to reduce indoor biting.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1661, "answer_start": 260, "text": "More than 1,000 cases of the illness have been registered in the city. Local media have reported that 10 people in the city have also died of chikungunya-related complications, although this is yet to be officially confirmed. The illness is largely non-lethal although the WHO says that in older people it can contribute to the cause of death. India's health minister JP Nadda told reporters that the government was investigating to see if the virus could be linked to the deaths, as many of those who died were already suffering from other illnesses such as kidney disease and high blood pressure. The larger problem, however, seems to be the effect the debilitating nature of the virus is having on the population of the city. The Indian Express newspaper reported that a number of public sector projects were missing important deadlines as the virus had severely depleted workforces. The report added that many migrant labourers from other Indian states - who make up the bulk of Delhi's construction workforce - have been forced to return home. This has also hit their personal incomes. Chikungunya also severely affects the quality of life of those who contract it - in many cases severe joint pains persist even after the fever has subsided. The Times of India wrote about the severe difficulties faced by one household where all 13 members of a family contracted the illness at the same time." } ], "id": "147_0", "question": "How bad is the situation in Delhi?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2555, "answer_start": 1662, "text": "It is unclear why Delhi has been so severely affected this year, but heavier than usual rainfall coupled with the large number of construction projects in the city could be a factor, as this can create many stagnant pools of water where mosquitoes can breed. Delhi also has a large number of open drains. The local government has been strongly criticised by media for what is being seen as a lax attitude to the outbreak. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is not in the city and the state health minister was ridiculed for saying the outbreak was a media creation. Following the outcry, the Indian government has asked local authorities to provide them with a detailed report about the situation. Federal health minister JP Nadda told reporters that they had also offered help in terms of providing more equipment and medicine to local officials but had been told the situation was under control." } ], "id": "147_1", "question": "How is the government dealing with it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3021, "answer_start": 2556, "text": "Chinkungunya is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that bite during daylight hours. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. The name derives from a word meaning \"to become contorted\" from the African Kimakonde language. Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever and joint pain, particularly affecting the hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Most patients recover after a few days but in some cases the joint pain may persist for weeks, months or even longer." } ], "id": "147_2", "question": "What is chikungunya?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Forty years ago this week Margaret Thatcher came to power. At that time there was a sense of broken economy, broken politics, over-powerful trade unions and politicians who seemed only capable of managing decline. Fast forward to now and we again see chaotic politics and widespread sense of economic disaffection. So are we facing another sea-change moment for the UK and its economy? During the 1984 miners' strike the colliers of Shirebrook in Derbyshire were divided over the industrial dispute with Mrs Thatcher's government. The colliery's long gone and it's now the site of a Sport Direct warehouse. Of course, Sports Direct has brought thousands of jobs to the town but the testimony from one warehouse employee, Sam - it's not his real name - shows just how little power some UK workers have. He describes toiling alongside colleagues who don't have a permanent contract despite 10 years of continuous service: \"We're asking to be treated like humans, like good workers, with respect.\" Sports Direct did not respond to BBC requests to comment. Sixty miles across the Peak District is Oldham, named by the Office for National Statistics not long ago as the most deprived town in England. Its textile industry fell into decline in the mid-20th Century with the last mill closing in 1998. The end of textile processing has seriously depressed the local economy. Gillian Holt, who has run a beauty parlour in Oldham since 1980, tells me how things have changed: \"When I first came here it was thriving - we had a florist, baker, jeweller, lovely clothes shops. \"We have none of those now. We have a lot more charity and bargain shops. It really has changed quite dramatically,\" she says. Some say that change is now coming for Sam, Gillian - and for millions of workers, students, families and pensioners across the UK. \"No one is advocating the neoliberal economic policies that they were nine years ago. Even this government has gone quiet on it,\" says Labour's shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. \"Tax cuts for corporations and the rich, trickle-down economics, privatisation, outsourcing, the market will always know best - all of those elements are now being questioned. Why? Because people know the system hasn't worked for them.\" Opposition politicians always say it's time for a change, but a surprising number of people across the political spectrum agree. \"It looks to me the message from the British public is: enough,\" says Jim O'Neill, who was a Conservative Treasury minister between 2015 and 2016. \"The ideas are changing,\" says the economist Diane Coyle of Cambridge University. \"That Thatcherite sense of people making choices as individuals, the private sector being dominant - the character of the economy has changed making that much less valid an assumption.\" Even some government ministers agree radical change is in the air. \"I do think there something is happening, something big,\" says the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss. \"We went through a few years - the Blair years, the Cameron years - where it was all about managerial politics. \"Now we are having a more fundamental debate about our economy.\" Perhaps you could call it the 40-year itch, as it is now four decades since Margaret Thatcher led the Conservatives to that general election victory in May 1979. At the time, the defeated Labour leader James Callaghan summed it up thus: \"There are times... when there is a sea-change in politics. It then does not matter what you say or what you do. There is a shift in what the public wants and what it approves of. There was a popular yearning for a radical break and even Mrs Thatcher's opponents felt it. \"I was a young trade union official. On the doorstep you knew that people wanted some form of change,\" recalls Mr McDonnell. That election victory has gone down in history as a fundamental rupture of the post-war consensus. Out went \"incomes policies\" for workers, central planning and full employment goals. In came deregulation, free markets, tax cuts and privatisation. Fast forward to the present days and we again find chaotic politics and a widespread sense of economic disaffection. So is this another pivotal moment for the UK? \"People have got used to the idea that wages rise year by year but for a 10-year period following the crash of 2008 they saw no increase in their living standards,\" says Lord Heseltine, a minister in Mrs Thatcher's government in 1979. \"That created a deep sense of frustration, particularly outside the honey pot of London and the South East.\" That frustration has driven support for an array of radical policy ideas, from a Universal Basic Income or a four-day week to a jobs guarantee. Some see the future as major expansion of the co-operative movement, where an enterprise is owned not by shareholders but its workers. \"The conventional workplace, it's not very fulfilling,\" says Kayleigh Walsh, part of the Outlandish tech co-operative in London. Frances O'Grady of the Trade Union Congress advocates a restoration of trade unions' power and influence to deal with the exploitation of the rapidly expanding gig economy: \"Young workers are telling us that they want the right to guaranteed hours. It's a basic right that you should be able to build a life on a decent steady job.\" But Liz Truss sees a danger in over-regulation of businesses and insists rising self-employment and the gig economy should be regarded as a liberation, not a prison. \"We've never had a more capable, more informed, group of citizens in this country. What people want is to make the decisions themselves - they don't want someone in Whitehall telling them what to do.\" What all seem to agree on is that the future of work in the 21st Century could and should involve much more autonomy for individual workers. \"The flexible nature of work is a big plus and we should embrace it,\" says former governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, who adds that he now regards himself as part of the gig economy. If there's a new consensus on regional policy it's that there should be a radical devolution of power to help \"left behind\" cities and towns across the UK catch up - places like Oldham, where Gillian Holt lives and works. \"Whatever the qualities and talents of people making decisions at the centre, very often what motivates them is political considerations, or their own career, which have nothing to do with the local areas about which they are making decisions,\" says Lord King. \"I do think we are a overly centralised country. I think the ultimate devolution is to people themselves. I always believe that people make the best decisions about their own lives,\" agrees Liz Truss. If this comes to pass, it will mean more decisions on education, skills training and transport being taken by local politicians rather than those in Westminster. After almost a decade of public sector austerity, it's widely felt that our public services need more funding. \"It's got to be the first time in 20 years we've seen more than one opinion poll showing the British appetite to pay taxes seems to be changing,\" says Lord O'Neill. \"It looks to me than sensible governments should consider higher taxes, especially to prioritise public service investment.\" And it's not just taxation but the broader role of the state where attitudes seem to have shifted. Extensive polling for the Legatum Institute in 2017 found strong UK public support for statements such as \"the pay of execs should be capped\" and \"government needs to do more to regulate how businesses behave\". It found strongly negative connotations in the public mind with \"capitalism\" and a more positive impression of \"socialism\". But though Frances O'Grady of the TUC thinks the right way forward for the country is clear, she admits she is not sure which way the country will actually break. \"Is it going to be that slash-and-burn vision that some backbenchers on the right of the Tory party would like to see? Free market fundamentalism, remove the last remaining rights of trade unions and workers? Or is it going to be a positive vision, where we're looking for a much more equal Britain?\" \"It will be a revolution,\" says a confident Mr McDonnell. \"We've got to transform society. What we're talking about is a new economy that we want to create - much more democratic at every level\". Labour promises higher taxes on the wealthy, an expansion of public investment, the re-nationalisation of certain utilities and moves to give workers a stake in their firms. But does this add up to a genuine new philosophy of how our increasingly digital economy should work? For some that remains the missing piece of the jigsaw. \"Now as in 1979 the conditions are ripe for quite significant change,\" says Diane Coyle. \"The difference is that at that time there was a coalescing of certain ideas which gave Thatcher and her government a clear idea of what they wanted to do. \"No one in politics now has the vision of what that 'post post-industrial', very unequal, economy does now to deliver lasting prosperity for everyone around the country.\" BBC Newsnight is broadcast at 22:30 on BBC Two, and you can find out more on this story here", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5972, "answer_start": 4187, "text": "\"People have got used to the idea that wages rise year by year but for a 10-year period following the crash of 2008 they saw no increase in their living standards,\" says Lord Heseltine, a minister in Mrs Thatcher's government in 1979. \"That created a deep sense of frustration, particularly outside the honey pot of London and the South East.\" That frustration has driven support for an array of radical policy ideas, from a Universal Basic Income or a four-day week to a jobs guarantee. Some see the future as major expansion of the co-operative movement, where an enterprise is owned not by shareholders but its workers. \"The conventional workplace, it's not very fulfilling,\" says Kayleigh Walsh, part of the Outlandish tech co-operative in London. Frances O'Grady of the Trade Union Congress advocates a restoration of trade unions' power and influence to deal with the exploitation of the rapidly expanding gig economy: \"Young workers are telling us that they want the right to guaranteed hours. It's a basic right that you should be able to build a life on a decent steady job.\" But Liz Truss sees a danger in over-regulation of businesses and insists rising self-employment and the gig economy should be regarded as a liberation, not a prison. \"We've never had a more capable, more informed, group of citizens in this country. What people want is to make the decisions themselves - they don't want someone in Whitehall telling them what to do.\" What all seem to agree on is that the future of work in the 21st Century could and should involve much more autonomy for individual workers. \"The flexible nature of work is a big plus and we should embrace it,\" says former governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, who adds that he now regards himself as part of the gig economy." } ], "id": "148_0", "question": "Is Britain working?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6818, "answer_start": 5973, "text": "If there's a new consensus on regional policy it's that there should be a radical devolution of power to help \"left behind\" cities and towns across the UK catch up - places like Oldham, where Gillian Holt lives and works. \"Whatever the qualities and talents of people making decisions at the centre, very often what motivates them is political considerations, or their own career, which have nothing to do with the local areas about which they are making decisions,\" says Lord King. \"I do think we are a overly centralised country. I think the ultimate devolution is to people themselves. I always believe that people make the best decisions about their own lives,\" agrees Liz Truss. If this comes to pass, it will mean more decisions on education, skills training and transport being taken by local politicians rather than those in Westminster." } ], "id": "148_1", "question": "One nation?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Australia is currently searching for a saboteur (or saboteurs) amid a national scare involving the hiding of sewing needles within strawberries. In one case, a consumer who swallowed a needle had to be treated in hospital. Children and others have reported narrow escapes. Since the first cases were reported last week, authorities have also stepped up warnings of copycat, prank and hoax incidents. There has even been a case in New Zealand. What could compel such actions? The BBC asked criminologists and psychologists for their views. A food crime of this kind is rare in Australia and even its concept feels very unfamiliar, experts say. \"I think that's why there is such a sense of public outrage over this,\" says forensic psychologist Anita McGregor, from the University of New South Wales. \"You pick up a punnet of strawberries - something so benign and anticipated to be safe - and this is a step outside that.\" Police have not speculated publicly about how the scare began, saying they are working through complex industry supply chains. Criminologists say different motives are possible. Perpetrators may not even intend to hurt the public, according to Prof Murray Lee from the University of Sydney. \"You want to think about how someone's justifying these actions to themselves,\" he says. \"Perhaps they've been upset by a particular grower or business and wanted to take some kind of revenge.\" But it could also be a deliberate act of malice towards the public that is intended to spread fear, he says. \"You could equate [that possibility] with forms of terror that use cars and planes as weapons - it's obviously not the same thing - but it's sort of a small-scale version of that,\" he says. Ms McGregor said it could be an act of \"madness or badness\", or both. \"They could just be acting out against something in their personal lives, or acting on some delusion where they feel compelled to do something, but not out of a sense of criminality,\" she says. Regardless of the motivations, criminologists say acts of sabotage are done with intent. \"What we're seeing here is not an accident,\" said criminologist Dr Danielle Harris from Griffith University. \"We can try and understand why people break into houses or commit assault, but this here is not an act of passion. Whether it's the original crime or copycat offences, hoaxes and false alarms, these are acts of free will.\" Prof Lee agrees, and says the \"novelty\" of the act - targeting something that is ordinarily mundane - would appeal to copycat offenders. \"With each case reported, it's generating its own excitement,\" he says. \"So you can imagine someone slightly unhinged also wanting to join in on the notoriety and create their own news.\" The government has introduced stricter penalties for contaminating food as part of its response to the scare. Dr Harris says that copycat offenders are exhibiting \"attention-seeking behaviour\", similar to internet trolling and cyber bullying. \"People do things anonymously they wouldn't otherwise do, especially in this circumstance where there is a significant disconnection between the behaviour and the harm,\" she says. \"It's not an act of sadism. It's not someone who wants to see the pain of another person biting into the strawberry. There is a disconnect here.\" Reporting by the BBC's Frances Mao", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1704, "answer_start": 1048, "text": "Criminologists say different motives are possible. Perpetrators may not even intend to hurt the public, according to Prof Murray Lee from the University of Sydney. \"You want to think about how someone's justifying these actions to themselves,\" he says. \"Perhaps they've been upset by a particular grower or business and wanted to take some kind of revenge.\" But it could also be a deliberate act of malice towards the public that is intended to spread fear, he says. \"You could equate [that possibility] with forms of terror that use cars and planes as weapons - it's obviously not the same thing - but it's sort of a small-scale version of that,\" he says." } ], "id": "149_0", "question": "Who could be the target?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Indonesia has ordered inspections on all the country's commercial Boeing 737-Max 8 planes, after one crashed into the sea with 189 people on board. The Lion Air jet went down shortly after take-off near the capital, Jakarta, on Monday. There are no known survivors. Searchers have recovered debris, bodies and personal items. They are looking for the fuselage and flight recorders. Boeing launched its 737-Max 8 model last year. The plane that crashed went into service just a few months ago. On Tuesday Indonesia's transport ministry said all Max 8 aircraft belonging to Indonesian commercial airlines would be inspected, but it stopped short of grounding them. Meanwhile Lion Air, the country's largest low-cost airline, said it would meet a Boeing team on Wednesday. \"We have many questions for them. This was a new plane,\" Lion Air director Daniel Putut told reporters. Boeing has said it stands \"ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation\". Indonesia, a vast archipelago, is heavily reliant on air travel but many of its airlines have a poor safety record. Lion Air was banned from flying into European airspace until 2016. We do not know yet. Flight JT610 was heading for the western city of Pangkal Pinang when it went down 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta. Officials say the pilot had asked to return to Soekarno-Hatta airport before losing contact with air traffic control. A log obtained by the BBC showed the plane had experienced technical problems while flying from Bali to Jakarta the previous day. The log showed one instrument was giving \"unreliable\" airspeed readings and the captain had to hand over to the first officer. Altitude readings also differed on the captain and first officer's instruments. Lion Air chief executive Edward Sirait said on Tuesday that the plane had been repaired before being allowed to fly again. By Rebecca Henschke, BBC News, Jakarta Another day of waiting for the families and loved ones of those on board. Now they sit outside Jakarta's police hospital, where bodies are being brought. Lion Air is providing free flights from Bangka for the families of those onboard, like Surya's. \"They have all come hoping for some closure and certainty,\" she says. Her younger sister was on the plane. \"We want a body to grieve. She was the youngest in our family, so we all loved her very much. It feels very painful to lose the baby of the family.\" Outside the hospital I meet Murtado Kurinawan, whose newly-wed wife was on the plane, travelling for work. He has brought her toothbrush in the hope it will help with the identification process. \"I can't stop thinking about her. Her face fills my mind all the time,\" he said. The plane plunged in waters that are about 30m (100ft) deep just north-east of Jakarta. Investigators say they are hopeful of finding the main fuselage. Teams are using an underwater drone, as well as underwater \"pinger locators\" to try to pick up the sonar signals from the cockpit recorders. Several bags of body parts recovered from the sea are being taken to Jakarta for identification. Search official Yusuf Latif said it would be \"a miracle\" if survivors were found.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1875, "answer_start": 1154, "text": "We do not know yet. Flight JT610 was heading for the western city of Pangkal Pinang when it went down 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta. Officials say the pilot had asked to return to Soekarno-Hatta airport before losing contact with air traffic control. A log obtained by the BBC showed the plane had experienced technical problems while flying from Bali to Jakarta the previous day. The log showed one instrument was giving \"unreliable\" airspeed readings and the captain had to hand over to the first officer. Altitude readings also differed on the captain and first officer's instruments. Lion Air chief executive Edward Sirait said on Tuesday that the plane had been repaired before being allowed to fly again." } ], "id": "150_0", "question": "Why did the plane crash?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3171, "answer_start": 2699, "text": "The plane plunged in waters that are about 30m (100ft) deep just north-east of Jakarta. Investigators say they are hopeful of finding the main fuselage. Teams are using an underwater drone, as well as underwater \"pinger locators\" to try to pick up the sonar signals from the cockpit recorders. Several bags of body parts recovered from the sea are being taken to Jakarta for identification. Search official Yusuf Latif said it would be \"a miracle\" if survivors were found." } ], "id": "150_1", "question": "How is the search unfolding?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Baby, It's Cold Outside is one of those Christmas songs that's about as traditional as mince pies. But an American radio station's decision to pull it from playlists because it's seen as unsuitable in the #MeToo era has reignited a debate about the song, and raised questions about other potentially questionable Christmas classics. Baby, It's Cold Outside found a wide audience as a duet between Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter, and in recent years has been covered by the likes of Lady Gaga and Michael Buble. Critics of the song see it as the story of a man pressuring a woman into spending the night when she doesn't want to. In particular, the line \"Say what's in this drink?/No cabs to be had out there\" has led people to make a link with date rape. Glenn Anderson, a DJ on Star 102, said the lyrics now felt \"manipulative and wrong\", and that it has no place in a world where people are \"extra sensitive\". However, a former English teacher wrote a feminist defence of the song in a viral Tumblr post, suggesting the woman \"is excusing her uncharacteristically bold behaviour (either to the guy or to herself) by blaming it on the drink\". \"It is not a joke about how she's drunk and about to be raped,\" the blog's author wrote. \"It's a joke about how she's perfectly sober and about to have awesome consensual sex and use the drink for plausible deniability because she's living in a society where women aren't supposed to have sexual agency.\" Opinion on social media has been mixed. BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen revealed that the proposition-in-a-song even had an influence on global geopolitics. Lee Thompson, a music consultant who has worked in radio and TV for more than 30 years, thinks debates over such songs have grown in recent years. \"In all of my time working at radio stations, I've never had anyone come to me and say 'we shouldn't play a song',\" he says. \"It only seems to be in the last few years that the sensitivity around particular songs are magnified. I think social media is responsible for magnifying these arguments nowadays. \"Some people think, 'since this is my interpretation of the song, therefore everyone else needs to think its the correct interpretation of the song'.\" Baby, It's Cold Outside isn't the only seasonal song that some people find problematic. In 2007, BBC Radio 1 edited out the words \"faggot\" and \"slut\" from The Pogues' Fairytale of New York to avoid offence. But later that evening, the station changed its mind after criticism from listeners. Justin Myers, a columnist for GQ Magazine, wrote on his blog in November how allowing the song to be played on radio uncensored \"legitimises\" the slur and \"burdens\" the LGBT+ community. \"The word still has power, sharp cruel fangs, and is still used to demean and destroy lives of young people up and down the UK,\" he said. The song is heading back into the UK top 40 this week, however, as it has done for the past 13 Decembers, since downloading and streaming made it easier for old tunes to resurface. Magic Radio - which has devoted itself to Christmas songs for the month of December - has said it will keep playing both Baby, It's Cold Outside and Fairytale of New York this year. A spokeswoman for BBC Radio declined to say whether its stations would play the tunes. The BBC doesn't ban songs, she said - but \"tracks are chosen on musical merit and their relevance to our audience on a case-by-case basis\". Despite being written to raise funds to combat famine in Ethiopia, the 1984 song doesn't refer to the country at all but rather the entire continent, leading to accusations that it fuels the tired trope that everywhere in Africa is the same, rather than a place filled with distinct countries, each with their own unique culture. \"There exists a paternalistic way of thinking about Africa, likely exacerbated by the original (and the second, and the third) Band Aid singles, in which it must be 'saved', and usually from itself. We say 'Africa' in a way that we would never say 'Europe', or 'Asia',\" wrote Bim Adewunmi in The Guardian in 2014. She also pointed out that the lyrics reflected a \"popular narrative\" that those in the West were the \"benevolent elders, helping out poor Africans, mouths always needy and yawning\". Co-writer Bob Geldof gave the critics short shrift, saying: \"It's a pop song, it's not a doctoral thesis.\" The original record raised PS8m for famine relief by selling 3.8 million copies, making it the second biggest-selling single in UK chart history. Before you tweet \"PC gone mad!\" in all caps, read the following information first. In 2017, Professor Kyna Hamill of Boston University published a research paper outlining the racist origins of the beloved Christmas ditty. Her peer-reviewed paper found that the song was originally performed in blackface in a minstrel show as One Horse Open Sleigh in Boston in September 1857. The song was written by James Pierpont, who was desperate for work after failing at other professional ventures, and Prof Hamill's research suggests he \"capitalised on minstrel music\" and used making fun of black people in the snow as a \"'safe' ground\" for his show. Prof Hamill has said it wasn't her intention to stop your kids from singing this particular tune, however. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4540, "answer_start": 3462, "text": "Despite being written to raise funds to combat famine in Ethiopia, the 1984 song doesn't refer to the country at all but rather the entire continent, leading to accusations that it fuels the tired trope that everywhere in Africa is the same, rather than a place filled with distinct countries, each with their own unique culture. \"There exists a paternalistic way of thinking about Africa, likely exacerbated by the original (and the second, and the third) Band Aid singles, in which it must be 'saved', and usually from itself. We say 'Africa' in a way that we would never say 'Europe', or 'Asia',\" wrote Bim Adewunmi in The Guardian in 2014. She also pointed out that the lyrics reflected a \"popular narrative\" that those in the West were the \"benevolent elders, helping out poor Africans, mouths always needy and yawning\". Co-writer Bob Geldof gave the critics short shrift, saying: \"It's a pop song, it's not a doctoral thesis.\" The original record raised PS8m for famine relief by selling 3.8 million copies, making it the second biggest-selling single in UK chart history." } ], "id": "151_0", "question": "Do They Know It's Christmas?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has been asked to ascertain whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Republican and Democratic leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday sent a letter demanding a second investigation. Mr Trump earlier defended US ties with Saudi Arabia despite international condemnation over the incident. Khashoggi was killed on 2 October inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Trump acknowledged that the crown prince \"could very well\" have known about Khashoggi's brutal murder, adding: \"Maybe he did and maybe he didn't!\" He later stated that the CIA had not made a \"100%\" determination on the killing. Following the president's comments, Republican Senator Bob Corker and Democrat Bob Menendez issued a statement on behalf of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In it they called on Mr Trump to focus a second investigation specifically on the crown prince so as to \"determine whether a foreign person is responsible for an extrajudicial killing, torture or other gross violation\" of human rights. The request, issued under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, requires a response within 120 days. Saudi Arabia has blamed Khashoggi's death on rogue agents but denied claims that the crown prince had knowledge of the operation. US media have reported that the CIA believes Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder. In an interview on Sunday, Mr Trump told Fox News that he had refused to listen to a recording of Khashoggi's murder provided by Turkey, calling it \"a suffering tape\". By the BBC's chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, in Riyadh For Saudis, and especially Saudi leaders, there will be a sigh of relief. But, it's also what they expected, and what they've always said about President Trump - he will be a true friend of the Kingdom. Both sides want to draw a line under this major crisis - and global outcry. But as Mr Trump acknowledged, and Saudis know, it won't go away. Not for many in the US Congress, as well as for many others, including countries who will continue to call for greater clarity. Many Saudis say they don't believe their country's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, would have ordered such a despicable act. Many, who'd long been hoping to see their country move forward, have been shaken by this shocking murder, and regret it will cast a dark shadow for many years to come. In the words of one prominent Saudi: \"It has brought Saudi Arabia 10 steps back.\" Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham, a senator from Mr Trump's Republican Party, has predicted strong bipartisan support in Congress for sanctions against Saudi Arabia \"including appropriate members of the royal family\". \"The world is a very dangerous place!\" Mr Trump states, before holding up Saudi Arabia as an ally of the US against Iran. The kingdom spent \"billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism\" whereas Iran has \"killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East\", it says. The statement also stresses Saudi investment pledges and arms purchases. \"If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries,\" it adds. While admitting the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was \"terrible\", Mr Trump wrote that \"we may never know all of the facts\" about his death. \"The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region.\" Mr Trump later said he would meet Mohammed bin Salman at a G20 meeting in Argentina next week if the crown prince attended. By Anthony Zurcher, BBC senior North America reporter, Washington Donald Trump is a different kind of president, and nowhere is that more clear than in his foreign policy, exclamation points and all. His release on the death of Jamal Khashoggi is remarkable for many reasons, and not just its blunt language. The president quickly tries to change the subject to Iran. He dismisses reports that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder with a maybe-he-did, maybe-he-didn't shrug. He cites the economic impact of $450bn in investment and arms sales to the Saudis, although much of that is little more than paper promises. Perhaps most jarring is his casual observation that the Saudis viewed Khashoggi - a permanent US resident - as an \"enemy of the state\" with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Mr Trump has distilled his \"America First\" worldview down to its very essence. Morality and global leadership take a back seat to perceived US economic and military security. What the take-away will be in the Middle East and beyond is a serious issue, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. US policy in the region is so closely aligned with that of two key individuals - Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia and PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel - that it is increasingly hard to see how the US can play a role as an independent arbiter, our correspondent says. Mr Trump's narrow, interests-based approach will further dismay Washington's allies in the West, he argues, reinforcing those in Moscow and Beijing who are already applying a \"Russia First\" and a \"China First\" approach in international affairs. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted his disgust at the Trump statement, calling it disgraceful.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3689, "answer_start": 2772, "text": "\"The world is a very dangerous place!\" Mr Trump states, before holding up Saudi Arabia as an ally of the US against Iran. The kingdom spent \"billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism\" whereas Iran has \"killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East\", it says. The statement also stresses Saudi investment pledges and arms purchases. \"If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries,\" it adds. While admitting the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was \"terrible\", Mr Trump wrote that \"we may never know all of the facts\" about his death. \"The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region.\" Mr Trump later said he would meet Mohammed bin Salman at a G20 meeting in Argentina next week if the crown prince attended." } ], "id": "152_0", "question": "What does Trump's statement say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5401, "answer_start": 4655, "text": "What the take-away will be in the Middle East and beyond is a serious issue, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. US policy in the region is so closely aligned with that of two key individuals - Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia and PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel - that it is increasingly hard to see how the US can play a role as an independent arbiter, our correspondent says. Mr Trump's narrow, interests-based approach will further dismay Washington's allies in the West, he argues, reinforcing those in Moscow and Beijing who are already applying a \"Russia First\" and a \"China First\" approach in international affairs. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted his disgust at the Trump statement, calling it disgraceful." } ], "id": "152_1", "question": "How will the statement play out internationally?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pakistani officials say they will investigate allegations police carried out an unauthorised killing of a man wrongly accused of murdering a child. Police shot Mudasir, accused of killing five-year-old Iman Fatima, in February 2017, saying he tried to escape. However, a BBC Newsnight investigation has uncovered allegations that Iman's real killer is still at large. DNA tests suggest Iman was killed by the same man suspected of murdering another child this month. The rape and murder of six-year-old Zainab Ansari earlier this month sparked outrage and protests across Pakistan. Police working on the investigation into Zainab's murder have discovered DNA traces matching those found in seven other attacks on young girls in the same city. Out of the seven attack victims, four - including Iman - were murdered. Until now, police and Iman's family thought her case had already been solved - but her family now believe the real killer is still on the run, while Mudasir was innocent. Iman Fatima had been playing outside in the street with her five-year-old cousin Adeel. Sitting next to his father, Adeel told the BBC, \"The kidnapper made me stand against the wall and took Iman Fatima away. He took her upstairs, put her in a sack and took her away.\" Adeel's memory of the incident is at times vague and confused but his family say after the abduction, despite his age, he identified the house his cousin had been taken into, and later the man responsible. The suspect was 21 year-old Mudasir, a factory worker who had moved to Kasur with his family around two years earlier. What happened next is disputed. According to one police version Mudasir was killed resisting arrest. Another senior police officer told the BBC he was taken into custody where he confessed, and then was killed \"trying to escape.\" But in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mudasir's family said they believed police killed him despite knowing he wasn't the killer because they were not able to find the real culprit. Human rights groups have criticised police in Pakistan for carrying out what are known locally as \"police encounters\" - extra judicial killings that are then covered up as incidents where suspects resisted arrest. Analysts say police often carry out \"encounter killings\" because of the low conviction rate in Pakistani courts. After the discovery of Iman Fatima's body local residents began to protest against the perceived inaction by authorities. A month earlier in January 2017, another 5-year-old girl, Ayesha Asif had also been sexually assaulted and murdered. Mudasir's mother Jamila Bibi told the BBC, \"I feel as if I have lost everything. They killed my son.\" The family moved out of Kasur just days afterwards, \"No-one in the neighbourhood would even talk to us\" Jamila Bibi added tearfully. Mudasir's family say he was taken into custody the same evening Iman Fatima was abducted and killed. They allege they then went with police to recover his body from a local hospital. Police officials in Kasur told the BBC that Mudasir had been positively identified as the suspect by the girl's cousin Adeel. Speaking to the BBC, a relative of Iman Fatima said police had called him into the police station to hear Mudasir confess to the killing. But the DNA evidence examined as part of the enquiry into Zainab's murder later suggested Mudasir was not the killer. Following Mudasir's death in February 2017, another four young girls were attacked, including Zainab. Three of them died, one is still in hospital. Traces of the same DNA were found on their bodies as of Iman Fatima. When presented with the allegations uncovered by the BBC, Malik Ahmad Khan, spokesman for the Punjab Government, told the BBC that authorities in the province would carry out a \"full-fledged inquiry\" and that those responsible for any \"extrajudicial killing won't be spared.\" Iman Fatima's father told the BBC, \"I'm so worried - the real killer is still roaming free, and an innocent man has been killed.\" \"I am so angry with the police I can't explain. We want justice and we want the actual culprit caught.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2324, "answer_start": 986, "text": "Iman Fatima had been playing outside in the street with her five-year-old cousin Adeel. Sitting next to his father, Adeel told the BBC, \"The kidnapper made me stand against the wall and took Iman Fatima away. He took her upstairs, put her in a sack and took her away.\" Adeel's memory of the incident is at times vague and confused but his family say after the abduction, despite his age, he identified the house his cousin had been taken into, and later the man responsible. The suspect was 21 year-old Mudasir, a factory worker who had moved to Kasur with his family around two years earlier. What happened next is disputed. According to one police version Mudasir was killed resisting arrest. Another senior police officer told the BBC he was taken into custody where he confessed, and then was killed \"trying to escape.\" But in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mudasir's family said they believed police killed him despite knowing he wasn't the killer because they were not able to find the real culprit. Human rights groups have criticised police in Pakistan for carrying out what are known locally as \"police encounters\" - extra judicial killings that are then covered up as incidents where suspects resisted arrest. Analysts say police often carry out \"encounter killings\" because of the low conviction rate in Pakistani courts." } ], "id": "153_0", "question": "'Trying to escape'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Sri Lanka's top military officer has been remanded in custody, accused of covering up civil war-era murders. Chief of Defence Staff Ravindra Wijeguneratne appeared in court after warrants for his arrest were issued. Prosecutors say he protected the main suspect, a naval intelligence officer who allegedly murdered 11 young men in the final stages of the conflict with separatist Tamil rebels in 2008-9. The officer is in custody. Admiral Wijeguneratne denies the allegations. The court in the capital, Colombo, remanded him in custody until 5 December. Three warrants for his arrest were issued in early November, but it took the admiral until now to present himself before the magistrates court, dressed in his military uniform and flanked by navy officers and supporters. His application for bail was rejected. Several journalists say they were attacked while covering proceedings. Tens of thousands of Tamils - and the rebel leadership - were killed at the end of the conflict, in which both sides were accused of atrocities. Human rights groups have long called for prosecutions, but there have been none so far. The naval officer the admiral is accused of protecting was detained in August. The bodies of the 11 young men, most of them Tamils, have never been found. Police have previously said in court most of the abductions took place in Colombo in 2008-09, and were an attempt to extort ransom by a group led by some navy officers. The 26-year civil war left at least 100,000 people dead on both sides of the conflict. The Tamil Tigers said they were fighting for a homeland for minority Tamils in northern Sri Lanka. There are still no confirmed figures for tens of thousands of civilian deaths in the last months of battle. The final months of the war saw hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians trapped in territory held by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the north-east. While government forces were accused of indiscriminate shelling leading to massive casualties, the Tamil Tiger rebels were alleged to have used civilians as human shields and shot people trying to escape. Allegations persist to this day that the army killed rebel leaders and others after they surrendered or were captured - and the UN admitted in 2012 that it could and should have done more to protect civilians. Channel 4 and the UN have documented numerous atrocities committed during the war. One investigation said it was possible that up to 40,000 people had been killed in the final five months alone. Others suggest the number of deaths could be even higher.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2550, "answer_start": 1442, "text": "The 26-year civil war left at least 100,000 people dead on both sides of the conflict. The Tamil Tigers said they were fighting for a homeland for minority Tamils in northern Sri Lanka. There are still no confirmed figures for tens of thousands of civilian deaths in the last months of battle. The final months of the war saw hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians trapped in territory held by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the north-east. While government forces were accused of indiscriminate shelling leading to massive casualties, the Tamil Tiger rebels were alleged to have used civilians as human shields and shot people trying to escape. Allegations persist to this day that the army killed rebel leaders and others after they surrendered or were captured - and the UN admitted in 2012 that it could and should have done more to protect civilians. Channel 4 and the UN have documented numerous atrocities committed during the war. One investigation said it was possible that up to 40,000 people had been killed in the final five months alone. Others suggest the number of deaths could be even higher." } ], "id": "154_0", "question": "What was the cost of the war?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nato will aim to avoid a new arms race with Russia, its secretary general says, after the US formally withdrew from a key nuclear treaty with Moscow. Both Jens Stoltenberg and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have blamed Russia for the Cold War treaty's collapse. Nato and the US accuse Russia of violating the pact by deploying a new type of missile, which Russia denies. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force banned missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500km (310-3,400 miles). The INF treaty was signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987 but its collapse more than 30 years later has raised fears of a new arms race. Last year the Americans said they had evidence that the new Russian cruise missiles fall within the range banned by the treaty. Accusations about the 9M729 missiles - known to Nato as SSC-8 - were then put to Washington's Nato allies, which all backed the US claim. In February, President Donald Trump set the 2 August deadline for the US to withdraw from the pact if Russia didn't come into compliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended his country's own obligations to the treaty shortly afterwards. \"Russia is solely responsible for the treaty's demise,\" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday. \"With the full support of our Nato allies, the United States has determined Russia to be in material breach of the treaty, and has subsequently suspended our obligations under the treaty,\" he added. Russia's foreign ministry confirmed the INF treaty had been terminated \"at the initiative of the US\", in a statement carried by the official Ria news agency. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the transatlantic alliance would \"respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile to allied security\". But, he added, Nato \"does not want a new arms race\" and confirmed there were no plans for the alliance to deploy land-based nuclear missiles of its own in Europe. Last month, he told the BBC that the Russian missiles were nuclear-capable, mobile, very hard to detect and could reach European cities within minutes. \"This is serious,\" he added. \"The INF treaty has been a cornerstone in arms control for decades, and now we see the demise of the treaty.\" UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that \"an invaluable brake on nuclear war\" was being lost. \"This will likely heighten, not reduce, the threat posed by ballistic missiles,\" he added, urging all parties to \"seek agreement on a new common path for international arms control\". Analysts fear that the collapse of the historic agreement could lead to a new arms race between the US, Russia and China. \"Now that the treaty is over, we will see the development and deployment of new weapons,\" Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russian military analyst, told AFP news agency. \"Russia is already ready.\" - Signed by the US and the USSR in 1987, the arms control deal banned all nuclear and non-nuclear missiles with short and medium ranges, except sea-launched weapons - The US had been concerned by the Soviet deployment of the SS-20 missile system in 1979 and responded by placing Pershing and cruise missiles in Europe - sparking widespread protests - By 1991, nearly 2,700 missiles had been destroyed - The two countries were allowed to inspect each other's installations The demise of the INF treaty - the only disarmament agreement ever to eliminate a whole category of nuclear weapons - represents a significant setback for advocates of arms control. That it comes at a time when the US is increasingly concerned by the threat from what it sees as a resurgent Russia is doubly unsettling. Neither Moscow nor Washington appears to value such treaties. The most important agreement of the old Cold War years - the New Start treaty - that limits long-range nuclear weapons is set to expire in February 2021. Its survival is far from certain. The paradox is that arms control appeared unimportant after the collapse of the Soviet Union when tensions were low. Now that they are mounting again, disarmament agreements could have an important part to play in maintaining stability. Instead arms control is in crisis, just when dangerous new weapons technologies (involving artificial intelligence and high-speed \"hypersonic\" missiles) are being developed. In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the treaty no longer served Russia's interests. That happened after US President George W Bush, in 2002, pulled the US out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which banned weapons designed to counter ballistic nuclear missiles. In 2014, then US President Barack Obama accused Russia of breaching the INF Treaty after it allegedly tested a ground-launched cruise missile. He reportedly chose not to withdraw from the treaty under pressure from European leaders, who said such a move could restart an arms race. Then last year, Nato supported the US accusations and formally accused Russia of breaking the treaty. Russia denied the accusation and President Putin said it was a pretext for the US to leave the pact. Amid worsening ties between Washington and Moscow, Turkey last month received the first parts of a Russian S-400 missile defence system despite opposition from the US. The US has warned that Turkey cannot have both the S-400 anti-aircraft defence system and US F-35 fighter jets. Turkey and the US are Nato allies but Turkey has also been establishing closer links with Russia.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1646, "answer_start": 661, "text": "Last year the Americans said they had evidence that the new Russian cruise missiles fall within the range banned by the treaty. Accusations about the 9M729 missiles - known to Nato as SSC-8 - were then put to Washington's Nato allies, which all backed the US claim. In February, President Donald Trump set the 2 August deadline for the US to withdraw from the pact if Russia didn't come into compliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended his country's own obligations to the treaty shortly afterwards. \"Russia is solely responsible for the treaty's demise,\" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday. \"With the full support of our Nato allies, the United States has determined Russia to be in material breach of the treaty, and has subsequently suspended our obligations under the treaty,\" he added. Russia's foreign ministry confirmed the INF treaty had been terminated \"at the initiative of the US\", in a statement carried by the official Ria news agency." } ], "id": "155_0", "question": "Why has it ended?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2901, "answer_start": 1647, "text": "Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the transatlantic alliance would \"respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile to allied security\". But, he added, Nato \"does not want a new arms race\" and confirmed there were no plans for the alliance to deploy land-based nuclear missiles of its own in Europe. Last month, he told the BBC that the Russian missiles were nuclear-capable, mobile, very hard to detect and could reach European cities within minutes. \"This is serious,\" he added. \"The INF treaty has been a cornerstone in arms control for decades, and now we see the demise of the treaty.\" UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that \"an invaluable brake on nuclear war\" was being lost. \"This will likely heighten, not reduce, the threat posed by ballistic missiles,\" he added, urging all parties to \"seek agreement on a new common path for international arms control\". Analysts fear that the collapse of the historic agreement could lead to a new arms race between the US, Russia and China. \"Now that the treaty is over, we will see the development and deployment of new weapons,\" Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russian military analyst, told AFP news agency. \"Russia is already ready.\"" } ], "id": "155_1", "question": "What are the risks?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5499, "answer_start": 4356, "text": "In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the treaty no longer served Russia's interests. That happened after US President George W Bush, in 2002, pulled the US out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which banned weapons designed to counter ballistic nuclear missiles. In 2014, then US President Barack Obama accused Russia of breaching the INF Treaty after it allegedly tested a ground-launched cruise missile. He reportedly chose not to withdraw from the treaty under pressure from European leaders, who said such a move could restart an arms race. Then last year, Nato supported the US accusations and formally accused Russia of breaking the treaty. Russia denied the accusation and President Putin said it was a pretext for the US to leave the pact. Amid worsening ties between Washington and Moscow, Turkey last month received the first parts of a Russian S-400 missile defence system despite opposition from the US. The US has warned that Turkey cannot have both the S-400 anti-aircraft defence system and US F-35 fighter jets. Turkey and the US are Nato allies but Turkey has also been establishing closer links with Russia." } ], "id": "155_2", "question": "Where did things go wrong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Trump administration is trying to cut Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro's revenue streams, US National Security Adviser John Bolton says. The comments come one day after Mr Maduro cut diplomatic ties with the US. He was angry after they recognised an opposition figure, Juan Guaido, as interim president on Wednesday. Mr Bolton told reporters outside the White House the issue was \"complicated\" but they were working on a plan to funnel funds to Mr Guaido instead. Figures from the Trump administration are continuing to try and compound pressure on Mr Maduro as the international community remains divided in its support of him. Russia has condemned foreign powers for backing Mr Guaido, saying the move violated international law and was a \"direct path to bloodshed\". Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, has now requested a UN Security Council meeting be held on the issue on Saturday. At a meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on Thursday he described Mr Maduro's government as \"morally bankrupt\" and \"undemocratic to the core\". - Are you in Venezuela? Email your story to [email protected] President Trump has said that \"all options are on the table\" in response to the unrest. Large protests were organised against, and some in support of, Mr Maduro on Wednesday. At one demonstration in Caracas, Mr Guaido, Venezuela's National Assembly leader, declared himself as the country's interim leader. He said articles within the country's constitution allow him to assume interim power because he believed Mr Maduro's election, and therefore presidency, was invalid. He has vowed to lead a transitional government and hold free elections. Within minutes of his declaration, Mr Trump recognised Mr Guaido as the country's legitimate head of state. A number of South American nations, as well as Canada and the UK, have now followed suit. The government of Mr Maduro, who has maintained the military's support, described Mr Guaido's actions as an attempted coup. Mr Maduro has labelled the US comments a \"big provocation\" and broken off diplomatic relations. On Thursday, he ordered the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the US. The US state department meanwhile has ordered non-essential staff to leave Venezuela. Mr Maduro's sovereignty has been backed by China and Russia, who both have strategic interests in his country's economy. Others, including Mexico and Turkey, have also stood by Mr Maduro. A Caracas-based NGO, the Observatory of Social Conflict, says that at least 26 people have been killed in demonstrations so far this week. Analysis by Natalie Sherman, BBC News Business Reporter The US has already imposed a raft of sanctions in the past two years, which target officials in the Maduro government, restrict Venezuela's access to US debt markets and block dealings with those involved in the country's gold trade. But so far, the Trump administration has not taken action directly against oil imports, which are a key source of cash. A stand-off over US embassy personnel could push the White House to take that step. But analysts cautioned that oil sanctions would likely have limited effect on the Maduro regime, which could redirect shipments to allies such as China and Russia, while blaming the US for any additional hardship. Meanwhile, the decision would have consequences in the US, which imported almost 20 million barrels of Venezuelan oil a month through October of last year. \"At the end of the day, it's a much more symbiotic relationship between Venezuela and the Gulf Coast,\" said Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, who worked on sanctions against Iran under the Obama administration. Mr Nephew said Mr Bolton's comments about supporting the opposition indicate the US may be looking more seriously at preparing an aid package. But he warned: \"Getting money back into the opposition's hands is much more complicated.\" Mr Maduro has led the country since 2013 and was sworn in for a second term earlier this month. His re-election in May 2018 was marred by an opposition boycott and vote-rigging claims. The president has faced ongoing criticism international and internal opposition for his human rights record and handling of the economy. Despite having the world's largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela's economy has been in a state of collapse for several years. Its industry has suffered mismanagement and oil revenue has dropped significantly. Endemic hyperinflation and shortages of necessities like food and medicine have hit the population hard and caused millions of Venezuelans to flee. Strategic partners including China and Russia have invested deeply the country's economy - ploughing billions into trade deals and loans to the help its ailing economy. Moscow sees Venezuela as one of its closest allies in the region and has sharply rebuked US comments about Mr Guaido's claim. Are you in Venezuela? What has life been like in the country? Tell us your story by emailing [email protected] Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Or Upload your pictures/video here - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Text an SMS or MMS to +44 7624 800 100 (international) - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2584, "answer_start": 1212, "text": "Large protests were organised against, and some in support of, Mr Maduro on Wednesday. At one demonstration in Caracas, Mr Guaido, Venezuela's National Assembly leader, declared himself as the country's interim leader. He said articles within the country's constitution allow him to assume interim power because he believed Mr Maduro's election, and therefore presidency, was invalid. He has vowed to lead a transitional government and hold free elections. Within minutes of his declaration, Mr Trump recognised Mr Guaido as the country's legitimate head of state. A number of South American nations, as well as Canada and the UK, have now followed suit. The government of Mr Maduro, who has maintained the military's support, described Mr Guaido's actions as an attempted coup. Mr Maduro has labelled the US comments a \"big provocation\" and broken off diplomatic relations. On Thursday, he ordered the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the US. The US state department meanwhile has ordered non-essential staff to leave Venezuela. Mr Maduro's sovereignty has been backed by China and Russia, who both have strategic interests in his country's economy. Others, including Mexico and Turkey, have also stood by Mr Maduro. A Caracas-based NGO, the Observatory of Social Conflict, says that at least 26 people have been killed in demonstrations so far this week." } ], "id": "156_0", "question": "How did the row develop?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A presidential candidate in Tunisia who reached the final stage of the election is set to remain in custody after failing to win an appeal to be freed. Nabil Karoui, 56, was detained last month on charges of money laundering and tax fraud, which he denies. The media mogul was still able to stand despite his arrest but he was not allowed to vote. He reached the run-off vote which is expected next month. On Wednesday, a judge refused to rule on whether or not he would be released. The judge said the matter was not in his jurisdiction. It is the third time he has had an appeal turned down. It means Mr Karoui, who began a hunger strike earlier this month to demand his freedom, will remain in jail. His lawyer, Kamel Ben Messoud, told AFP news agency his client would challenge the court's decision. Mr Karoui has never held political office. He founded a charity focused on fighting poverty and that issue has been a central theme of his campaign. But critics have accused him of using the charity and his TV channel to further his political ambitions. Mr Karoui and another political outsider, Kais Saied, saw off a crowded field of 24 other candidates in the first round of voting on Sunday. Mr Saied, an independent candidate and law professor, took 18.4% of the vote with Mr Karoui receiving 15.6% of votes cast. As no candidate won an outright majority they will both advance to the run-off. The exact date is yet to be announced. The result marked a blow for Tunisia's political establishment, including for Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and former interim President Moncef Marzouki, who both failed to progress. The winning candidate will be appointed to office for a five-year term. Tunisia's president has control over defence, foreign policy and national security. The prime minister, chosen by parliament, is responsible for other portfolios. Separately, parliamentary elections are also scheduled to take place next month. This election is the second free presidential poll since the 2011 uprising that toppled ex-President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring. It was brought forward after the death in July of the country's first democratically elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi, who took office in 2014.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2242, "answer_start": 1058, "text": "Mr Karoui and another political outsider, Kais Saied, saw off a crowded field of 24 other candidates in the first round of voting on Sunday. Mr Saied, an independent candidate and law professor, took 18.4% of the vote with Mr Karoui receiving 15.6% of votes cast. As no candidate won an outright majority they will both advance to the run-off. The exact date is yet to be announced. The result marked a blow for Tunisia's political establishment, including for Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and former interim President Moncef Marzouki, who both failed to progress. The winning candidate will be appointed to office for a five-year term. Tunisia's president has control over defence, foreign policy and national security. The prime minister, chosen by parliament, is responsible for other portfolios. Separately, parliamentary elections are also scheduled to take place next month. This election is the second free presidential poll since the 2011 uprising that toppled ex-President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring. It was brought forward after the death in July of the country's first democratically elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi, who took office in 2014." } ], "id": "157_0", "question": "What's the latest on the election?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The South Korean first lady, Kim Jung-sook, is in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh where she is visiting the ancient city of Ayodhya. Ayodhya, which is best known as the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram, also however, holds special significance for some South Koreans - many believe they can trace their ancestry to the city. This belief comes from several historical Korean stories, which tell the story of an Indian princess - Suriratna - who married a South Korean king and started a dynasty. According to the legend, Princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, went to Korea in 48 AD, some 2000 years ago, and started the Karak dynasty by marrying a local king. Some Chinese-language texts claim that the then King of Ayodhya had a dream where God ordered him to send his 16-year-old daughter to South Korea to marry King Kim Suro. A popular South Korean book comprising fables and historical stories, Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), mentions that Queen Hwang-ok was the princess of \"Ayuta\" kingdom. The royal couple prospered. They had 10 sons and both lived to be over a 150 years old. An anthropologist named Kim Byung-mo Ayuta appeared to confirm the widely held belief that Ayuta was actually Ayodhya, as the two names are phonetically similar. But there is no clear evidence to show that the princess even actually existed. \"Her origin story is considered to be mythical and is not considered to be history by academics,\" says David Cann of the BBC's Korean Service. \"There have been several fictional renditions of the story as there is plenty of room for imagination.\" Kim is a common surname in Korea and King Kim Suro is considered to be the father of the Kim clan which is based in Gimhae. \"While traditionally children in Korea take their father's surname, the queen is said to have been sad that her children could not bear her surname,\" says Minji Lee of the BBC Korean Service. \"The legend says that therefore King Suro allowed two of their sons to take her name (Heo), which is used to this day.\" Today, historians say, descendants of the couple number more than six million, which is roughly about 10% of the South Korean population. People from the Karak dynasty have also preserved the rocks that are said to have been used by the princess during her sea voyage to Korea to keep her boat stable. Former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung and former prime minister Kim Jong-pil claim their ancestry to the Karak dynasty. Some of our colleagues in the BBC Korean Service say that they have heard about this legend but don't believe it's a widely talked-about story because \"it goes back so far in the past\". \"I remember hearing about it when I was in primary school or junior high and my friends and I were fascinated how our ancestry involves someone from so far away,\" says Ms Lee. Some say that there is speculation that the princess is actually from Thailand since Ayuta may actually be Thailand's Ayutthaya Kingdom. Stories on the internet say that some people from Gimhae refer to this legend \"like a family joke\" especially if they have darker skin, attributing it to their \"ancestor who may or may not have come from India\". \"Some believe that while it may be true that she came from a 'southern country over an ocean' the story was heavily embellished when Buddhism took root in Korea,\" says Mr Cann, who also remembers going to see a musical rendition of the legend as a child. An agreement was signed to develop Ayodhya and Gimhae as sister cities in 2000. Then in 2001, more than 100 historians and government representatives, including the North Korean ambassador to India, unveiled Queen Hwang-ok's memorial on the west bank of the River Saryu in Ayodhya. Every year, people who claim to be from the queen's lineage come to Ayodhya to pay tribute to the princess at her motherland. In 2016, a Korean delegation sent a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government to further develop the memorial. As part of her visit from 4 to 7 November, the first lady will attend a ceremony that marks a start on the upgrade of the monument - a joint project between South Korea and India. Prof Kim Do-young, a Delhi-based expert on Korean studies, says that this shared history started being recognised in India \"after diplomatic and economic relationship\" between the two countries developed. \"Whether it is history or legend - based on it - mental or spiritual gap [between the people] is reduced and a common cultural ground is made,\" he adds, pointing out that it's interesting that there maybe an \"ancient bond\" between the two nations. Queen Hwang-ok's story has been and can be the \"foundation for building better relations\" between South Korea and India. Prof Young says the South Korean first lady's visit is yet another step towards that.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1610, "answer_start": 505, "text": "According to the legend, Princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, went to Korea in 48 AD, some 2000 years ago, and started the Karak dynasty by marrying a local king. Some Chinese-language texts claim that the then King of Ayodhya had a dream where God ordered him to send his 16-year-old daughter to South Korea to marry King Kim Suro. A popular South Korean book comprising fables and historical stories, Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), mentions that Queen Hwang-ok was the princess of \"Ayuta\" kingdom. The royal couple prospered. They had 10 sons and both lived to be over a 150 years old. An anthropologist named Kim Byung-mo Ayuta appeared to confirm the widely held belief that Ayuta was actually Ayodhya, as the two names are phonetically similar. But there is no clear evidence to show that the princess even actually existed. \"Her origin story is considered to be mythical and is not considered to be history by academics,\" says David Cann of the BBC's Korean Service. \"There have been several fictional renditions of the story as there is plenty of room for imagination.\"" } ], "id": "158_0", "question": "What does the legend say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3439, "answer_start": 2474, "text": "Some of our colleagues in the BBC Korean Service say that they have heard about this legend but don't believe it's a widely talked-about story because \"it goes back so far in the past\". \"I remember hearing about it when I was in primary school or junior high and my friends and I were fascinated how our ancestry involves someone from so far away,\" says Ms Lee. Some say that there is speculation that the princess is actually from Thailand since Ayuta may actually be Thailand's Ayutthaya Kingdom. Stories on the internet say that some people from Gimhae refer to this legend \"like a family joke\" especially if they have darker skin, attributing it to their \"ancestor who may or may not have come from India\". \"Some believe that while it may be true that she came from a 'southern country over an ocean' the story was heavily embellished when Buddhism took root in Korea,\" says Mr Cann, who also remembers going to see a musical rendition of the legend as a child." } ], "id": "158_1", "question": "Is the legend popular in South Korea?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Anyone who's followed politics for any length of time knows no party's more prone to suicidal bouts of indiscipline than the Labour Party. Unless, of course, it's the Conservative Party when it's in the mood. Just now, the Tories are in more of a mood than they've been since the chaotic days of the Major administration, and possibly since 1990, the year the party hacked down Margaret Thatcher in an orgy of political regicide prompted, naturally, by DNA-deep divisions over Europe. A surely impossible demand from any senior Conservative for David Cameron to accept his manifesto pledge to reduce net migration into the UK to the tens of thousands is valueless on the ground it's \"corrosive of public trust\" - in other words because no-one believes it - would be embarrassing enough if delivered in private. Published in an open letter by Michael Gove and Boris Johnson (Gisela Stuart's a co-signatory, but Labour's internal debate is another story) it amounts to an escalation of a battle that now defies all established principles of government discipline and collective responsibility. And it does so in a way the prime minister will surely find very difficult to forgive. Harder still to overlook is the suggestion from once-favoured Employment Minister Priti Patel that the Remain campaign is led by people who are too privileged and rich, too posh, to understand the effect of mass migration on the less well off. She didn't actually name David Cameron or George Osborne, but it's not immediately apparent which other upper crust, public school and Oxbridge, multi-millionaires at the head of the Remain campaign she might have been referring to. There is a big argument at the heart of this. The Leave campaign calculates that worries about mass migration is a raw nerve which cannot be agitated too hard, or too often. It's their natural advantage, according to all public opinion research and the anecdotal evidence of countless doorstep encounters. Almost every Labour MP I meet tells me almost every voter they talk to brings it up, which I mention because Labour supporters matter hugely. Conservative voters are generally judged to lean naturally towards a \"Brexit\". In their open letter, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson's simple point is that EU open borders make immigration control impossible. The Leave campaign needs that point to hit home. The political cost of such a tactic may be high. It accelerates a descent into internecine warfare which now threatens to make the Conservative Party ungovernable if the referendum ends in anything but a decisive victory for the Remain campaign. So bitter has the conflict become, so taut the tension between the rival factions, that angry Eurosceptic Tories talk privately of challenging the prime minister's position even if Britain votes to stay inside the European Union. One of the most militant MPs, Andrew Bridgen, has gone public. He told me in an interview for BBC Radio 5 live's Pienaar's Politics that he believes it \"highly likely\" at least 50 Tory MPs would sign demands for a vote of no confidence in the PM if the campaign goes on as it has. More than that, he suggests the Cameron administration could be reduced to what he and others call a \"zombie government\" by its divided MPs, unable to govern and forced to consider a snap election. At Westminster, that kind of apocalyptic talk is becoming more common. Some of the whispering is - and is probably intended to be - hair-raising. I've heard it suggested that three members of the Cameron administration have become so upset by the tone of campaigning on the Remain side led by the prime minister that they are contemplating resignation, not just from the government, but from the Tory whip, effectively quitting the party. True? We may never know. But the whispering is becoming feverish. One MP on the now militant Eurosceptic wing said letters demanding a vote of confidence in the PM had already been submitted to the chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, who's a sort of posh shop-steward for Conservative MPs. Mr Brady himself is bound by a sacred oath of secrecy where such matters are concerned, so we must wait to find out. The Sunday Times newspaper carries more mutinous muttering. Former Environment Secretary Owen Patterson told the paper: \"The government now has four weeks to behave properly. \"If they don't, there are risks they will cause long term damage to the Conservative Party.\" Another, unnamed MP, puts it more bluntly: \"When you tell Tories they are immoral for supporting Brexiteers you are going to get a kick in the nuts.\" We'll see, of course. Everything depends on which side wins the referendum, and perhaps on the margin of victory. Mr Cameron insists he would carry on as prime minister if Britain votes to leave the EU. The more common view, shared among his closest supporters, is that he would be toast. If the vote is to remain an EU member, the reaction of Conservative MPs will be more a matter of chemistry than maths. Angry Eurosceptics (should we be calling them EU-rophobes?) may, or may not, be cross enough and strong enough in numbers to force a vote of confidence in the prime minister. Even then, winning that vote would be a tall order. It would need the support of 165 MPs. Not easy. More immediately worrisome, it would need a fraction of that number - just nine Tory MPs - to defeat any government vote in the Commons when combined with all opposition parties. On a realistic estimate, about 25 Conservatives are now sufficiently irate to press for a vote of no confidence in the PM. Fewer than half that number could produce the \"zombie government\" to which Andrew Bridgen referred. Ministers could be forced to discard any proposal that might meet any serious opposition, governing as if it was a minority, not a majority administration. Life would suddenly become very difficult. So a vote to remain could be a Pyrrhic victory if the margin is tight. And until we know the outcome on Friday 24 June, this self-destructive struggle is likely to intensify before it calms again - assuming, that is, the party is not already broken beyond repair.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4891, "answer_start": 3316, "text": "At Westminster, that kind of apocalyptic talk is becoming more common. Some of the whispering is - and is probably intended to be - hair-raising. I've heard it suggested that three members of the Cameron administration have become so upset by the tone of campaigning on the Remain side led by the prime minister that they are contemplating resignation, not just from the government, but from the Tory whip, effectively quitting the party. True? We may never know. But the whispering is becoming feverish. One MP on the now militant Eurosceptic wing said letters demanding a vote of confidence in the PM had already been submitted to the chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, who's a sort of posh shop-steward for Conservative MPs. Mr Brady himself is bound by a sacred oath of secrecy where such matters are concerned, so we must wait to find out. The Sunday Times newspaper carries more mutinous muttering. Former Environment Secretary Owen Patterson told the paper: \"The government now has four weeks to behave properly. \"If they don't, there are risks they will cause long term damage to the Conservative Party.\" Another, unnamed MP, puts it more bluntly: \"When you tell Tories they are immoral for supporting Brexiteers you are going to get a kick in the nuts.\" We'll see, of course. Everything depends on which side wins the referendum, and perhaps on the margin of victory. Mr Cameron insists he would carry on as prime minister if Britain votes to leave the EU. The more common view, shared among his closest supporters, is that he would be toast." } ], "id": "159_0", "question": "Vote of confidence?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has warned anti-government protesters not to push the city into an \"abyss\", in an emotional press conference on Tuesday. Ms Lam said Hong Kong had \"reached [a] dangerous situation\" and that violence during protests would push it \"down a path of no return\". She was met with hostility as she dodged questions by reporters, who repeatedly shouted and cut her off. Meanwhile protests are continuing for a fifth day at the city's busy airport. Mass unrest has rocked Hong Kong for 10 weeks and shows no signs of abating. Large protests started in response to a proposed extradition bill, which has now been suspended, but have evolved into a more demanding pro-democracy movement. Protests are fuelled by fear that the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys as a special administrative region of China are being eroded. Ms Lam's comments came a day after hundreds of flights had to be cancelled when thousands occupied the city's international airport. Dozens more have been cancelled on Tuesday, as demonstrators continue to gather. Authorities said on Tuesday that operations have resumed, but warned flights would still be affected. Flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said it had cancelled more than 200 inbound and outbound flights, and would run only a limited number for connecting passengers. Footage from inside shows hundreds sitting inside terminal buildings, including some obstructing departure gates. Some held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience. Others wore bandages and brandished slogans criticising the police's deepening crackdown on the unrest. Doctors at Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth Hospital have also staged a small sit-in protest opposing police violence, local media report. Ms Lam appeared close to tears at her Tuesday press conference as she called on Hong Kong residents to put aside their differences. \"Take a minute to think, look at our city, our home - do you all really want to see it pushed into an abyss?\" AFP quoted her as saying. Her comments echoed similar remarks by an official from the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, who said the city would slide \"into a bottomless abyss if the terror atrocities are allowed to continue\". Local journalists unleashed a barrage of questions in Cantonese and English, many condemning Ms Lam's response to the unrest. \"You blame your own political misjudgement on others, and refuse to acknowledge your mistakes,\" one journalist said, according to AFP. \"When will you accept political responsibility to end citizens' fear?... When will you be willing to step down? When will you tell the police to stop?\" Hong Kong's public broadcaster, RTHK, reportedly asked. Ms Lam evaded a question on whether she had the autonomy to completely withdraw the extradition bill, a key demand of protesters, saying she had answered it in the past. She said she was \"heartbroken\" by reports of serious injuries at last weekend's protests, but appeared to defend the police from claims they used disproportionate force, saying they were acting under \"extremely difficult circumstances\". Footage captured on Sunday showed police shooting non-lethal ammunition at protesters from close range. Officers were also seen storming an enclosed railway station before firing tear gas inside and beating people with batons, sparking renewed allegations of brutality. Ms Lam said police operations could not have been \"determined by someone like myself\", saying they had to make \"on the spot judgments\". She added that her role was to \"ensure that Hong Kong remains a safe and orderly\" city. \"After the violence has been stopped and the chaotic situation subsides... I will be responsible [for] rebuilding Hong Kong's economy, to listen as attentively as possible to my people's grievances and try to help Hong Kong to move on,\" she said. The press pack's frustration boiled over as the city's leader left the podium. According to AFP, one journalist demanded, \"Do you have a conscience?\" Are you at Hong Kong airport? Email [email protected] Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1724, "answer_start": 1045, "text": "Authorities said on Tuesday that operations have resumed, but warned flights would still be affected. Flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said it had cancelled more than 200 inbound and outbound flights, and would run only a limited number for connecting passengers. Footage from inside shows hundreds sitting inside terminal buildings, including some obstructing departure gates. Some held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience. Others wore bandages and brandished slogans criticising the police's deepening crackdown on the unrest. Doctors at Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth Hospital have also staged a small sit-in protest opposing police violence, local media report." } ], "id": "160_0", "question": "What's happening at the airport?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "There are lots of reasons why drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis is not a good idea. It can damage the liver, the heart and the brain and is bad for our general health - that much is known. That is why UK guidelines advise men and women to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or seven glasses of wine. Research shows that heavy drinking can increase the risk of developing dementia. Alcohol abuse is toxic to the brain and can damage memory. It has also been shown to accelerate vascular brain damage. In other words, it's bad for your brain. The Lancet Public Health has published new research from France on more than one million adults with dementia. Researchers found that being hospitalised with alcohol dependence or a health issue caused by continuous heavy drinking was a strong risk factor for the progressive brain condition, especially in the under-65s. Their risk of dementia was three times greater than other people's. But it's difficult to know whether it was a direct cause or just one factor among many. Heavy drinkers are more likely to be smokers, have depression and lead unhealthy lives, which increases the risk of dementia. No-one knows exactly. All we know is that they had alcohol use disorders which meant that their excessive drinking had become harmful and caused a serious health problem. But we do know that drinking to this extent is likely to increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart failure, which can also increase the risk of dementia. Most research suggests that drinking one or two units of alcohol a day - a small glass of red wine, particularly - could be of benefit to brain health. But the advice is not straightforward because studies have also found that even in moderation, drinking alcohol could increase the risk of dementia. However, there is a big difference between low-to-moderate drinking and people who drink in a way that is harmful - those who are binge-drinkers or alcohol-dependent. According to the UK chief medical officers, we should stick to drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. This keeps health risks to a low and safe level. - Large glass of wine - 3 units - Pint of higher-strength lager or beer - 3 units - Standard glass of wine - 2 units - Pint of lower-strength lager or beer - 2 units - Bottle of lager or beer - 1.7 units - Single shot of spirits - 1 unit Recognising that heavy drinking and being dependent on alcohol are going to increase the risk of developing dementia is important, they say. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, from the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: \"It is crystal clear that alcohol abuse is bad for your brain.\" But there is also agreement that more research is needed to work out the role played by the volume of alcohol consumed against how often alcohol is drunk - and how this affects the risk of early-onset dementia. Most cases of Alzheimer's disease, the most important cause of dementia, happen after the age of 65 and rise dramatically as people age. Discovering how to prevent those would be particularly useful. Dr Doug Brown from the Alzheimer's Society said that \"alcohol abuse disorders may be responsible for more cases of early-onset dementia than previously thought\". But he said the Lancet research did not change the current advice and did not suggest that moderate alcohol intake could cause early-onset dementia. And there is a warning from Dr Sara Imarisio, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK. \"People shouldn't be under the impression that only drinking to the point of hospitalisation carries a risk.\" She said there were steps everyone could take to improve brain health. \"Although there is no surefire way to completely prevent dementia, the best current evidence indicates that as well as only drinking in moderation, staying physically and mentally active, eating a healthy balanced diet, not smoking, and keeping weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check are all good ways to support a healthy brain as we age.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1216, "answer_start": 372, "text": "Research shows that heavy drinking can increase the risk of developing dementia. Alcohol abuse is toxic to the brain and can damage memory. It has also been shown to accelerate vascular brain damage. In other words, it's bad for your brain. The Lancet Public Health has published new research from France on more than one million adults with dementia. Researchers found that being hospitalised with alcohol dependence or a health issue caused by continuous heavy drinking was a strong risk factor for the progressive brain condition, especially in the under-65s. Their risk of dementia was three times greater than other people's. But it's difficult to know whether it was a direct cause or just one factor among many. Heavy drinkers are more likely to be smokers, have depression and lead unhealthy lives, which increases the risk of dementia." } ], "id": "161_0", "question": "So what's the link with dementia?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1568, "answer_start": 1217, "text": "No-one knows exactly. All we know is that they had alcohol use disorders which meant that their excessive drinking had become harmful and caused a serious health problem. But we do know that drinking to this extent is likely to increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart failure, which can also increase the risk of dementia." } ], "id": "161_1", "question": "How much did they drink?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2036, "answer_start": 1569, "text": "Most research suggests that drinking one or two units of alcohol a day - a small glass of red wine, particularly - could be of benefit to brain health. But the advice is not straightforward because studies have also found that even in moderation, drinking alcohol could increase the risk of dementia. However, there is a big difference between low-to-moderate drinking and people who drink in a way that is harmful - those who are binge-drinkers or alcohol-dependent." } ], "id": "161_2", "question": "Should moderate drinkers worry?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4092, "answer_start": 2437, "text": "Recognising that heavy drinking and being dependent on alcohol are going to increase the risk of developing dementia is important, they say. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, from the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: \"It is crystal clear that alcohol abuse is bad for your brain.\" But there is also agreement that more research is needed to work out the role played by the volume of alcohol consumed against how often alcohol is drunk - and how this affects the risk of early-onset dementia. Most cases of Alzheimer's disease, the most important cause of dementia, happen after the age of 65 and rise dramatically as people age. Discovering how to prevent those would be particularly useful. Dr Doug Brown from the Alzheimer's Society said that \"alcohol abuse disorders may be responsible for more cases of early-onset dementia than previously thought\". But he said the Lancet research did not change the current advice and did not suggest that moderate alcohol intake could cause early-onset dementia. And there is a warning from Dr Sara Imarisio, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK. \"People shouldn't be under the impression that only drinking to the point of hospitalisation carries a risk.\" She said there were steps everyone could take to improve brain health. \"Although there is no surefire way to completely prevent dementia, the best current evidence indicates that as well as only drinking in moderation, staying physically and mentally active, eating a healthy balanced diet, not smoking, and keeping weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check are all good ways to support a healthy brain as we age.\"" } ], "id": "161_3", "question": "What do experts say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A US government contractor has been arrested on suspicion of leaking top-secret information to a news outlet. Reality Leigh Winner, 25, allegedly removed classified material from a federal site in the state of Georgia. The charges were announced shortly after news website The Intercept published a National Security Agency briefing about alleged Russian meddling in last year's election. The Trump administration has been seeking to fight leaks to the media. Ms Winner was arrested on 3 June, the justice department said. She is a contractor with Pluribus International Corporation and had been employed at an NSA facility in Georgia since February. The accused faces a count of \"gathering, transmitting or losing defence information\". Ms Winner was vocal in her opposition to President Trump on social media, using the hashtag #NeverMyPresident in one post and an expletive in reference to his plans for a border wall. The Intercept's leaked document alleges that Moscow's military intelligence services attempted cyber-attacks on at least one US voting software supplier days before last November's US presidential election. It also accuses the Russians of sending spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials. However, there is no suggestion in the document that the hackers were successful. Ms Winner, who graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio in 2011, was caught after investigators noticed that the leaked document appeared to have been folded or creased. That suggested it had been \"printed and then carried out of a secured space\", according to an FBI affidavit in support of the arrest warrant. Investigators determined that Ms Winner was one of only six people to have printed the document. Examination of her email on her desk computer further revealed that she had exchanged emails with the news outlet, the indictment said. When confronted, Ms Winner admitted printing the report despite not possessing a \"need-to-know\" about its content and said she was aware that the information \"could be used to the injury of the US and to the advantage of a foreign nation\", the affidavit says. The NSA file in question was apparently marked for declassification not before May 2042. American intelligence agencies have accused the Kremlin of trying to interfere in the election to ensure Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton. Several congressional committees and the FBI are investigating the matter. The president has repeatedly dismissed the story as \"fake news\", arguing that the real scandal is how the allegations are being leaked to the media.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1314, "answer_start": 921, "text": "The Intercept's leaked document alleges that Moscow's military intelligence services attempted cyber-attacks on at least one US voting software supplier days before last November's US presidential election. It also accuses the Russians of sending spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials. However, there is no suggestion in the document that the hackers were successful." } ], "id": "162_0", "question": "What did the documents allege?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "This is the grave of Carlo Annoni, a 61-year-old nurse and gay rights campaigner. He is buried in the cemetery of Mariano Comense, in Como, Italy. His grieving husband chose a bright memorial, saying he wanted \"something that speaks of life, and joy - love\". But now critics have branded it a vulgar atrocity. Andrea Ballabio, a local councillor for the Forza Italia party, said of the tomb: \"No gender discrimination, but that grave is a punch in the eye - almost an insult to the other deceased and their loved ones who go to the cemetery.\" He wants a strict \"colour plan\" to dictate what tombs in the cemetery look like - to the anger of Mr Annoni's friends. The row exposes a divide about respect for the dead, and what exactly that means. Some might see rainbow mausoleums as too showy, but is banning them a reasonable response? Surely it is a personal choice how we honour our lost loved ones? Historically, grey gravestones became traditional in Europe because limestone, sandstone and slate were what regional stonemasons had available. But nowadays the market is full of black granite, thanks to imports from China. Professor Douglas Davies, director of the Centre for Death and Life Studies at the University of Durham, says that when people want something more colourful, it is usually expensive and hard to obtain. But he has noticed a rise in tombstones with a touch more personality. \"It extends into things like having gravestones cut with a football motif,\" he says. \"I was looking at one recently of a traveller Gypsy family, with big horses built into the gravestone - a remarkable structure. The building of lifestyle into death-style in headstones is, I think, a dramatically increasing trend.\" Corrado Spanger, Mr Annoni's partner of 36 years, told the BBC he wanted \"a happy and colourful grave to express a sentiment of love and devotion\". \"The colours also give the impression that Carlo's life goes on somewhere else, leaving me with the impression that we are not truly separated.\" And while it might not please everyone in Italy, his approach fits perfectly with traditions elsewhere in the world. In Mexico, locals remember the departed through a three-day carnival of music and colour - the world-famous Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Tombs are festooned with flaming marigolds, and the markets stock up on candied skulls, ghouls and coffins. At home and in the cemeteries, private altars are heavy with flowers, candles, and the favourite foods of loved ones to encourage their spirits to visit. Foreigners may find this upbeat attitude to remembrance alien, or even gruesome. But in parts of Latin America, it makes sense to toast the dead with a party. \"I would expect any Catholic country with a strong folk religion and where the lifestyle is colourful to have that reflected in their cemeteries,\" observes Prof Davies. In Ghana too, post-mortem fashion is more daring. In the capital, Accra, \"fantasy coffins\" come in extraordinary shapes, including eagles, jeeps, cocoa pods, and scantily clad women. Coffins here are seen as a status symbol - and a way to evoke the dead person's life, loves and sense of humour. It is hard not to smile at the sight of an exuberant bird-shaped coffin, but that level of decor is not for everyone. Some consider it selfish on a permanent memorial, saying it disrupts mourners who prefer an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Psychologist Dr Sally Austen tells the BBC that grief can make us keener on conformity, as we feel adrift and yearn to be anchored by something established. Something like a conventional, dark-coloured headstone, for example. \"As we go towards death, we start behaving in a way that is more scared and worried,\" she says. \"And as if somewhere, someone who is more knowledgeable and powerful is going to expect us to behave.\" So we are taking comfort in not standing out? Perhaps, she says. \"I think it's old-school: [We think] other people have got this covered, this is what you do. This is what's reliable and safe, and this is how I too can be held, in a psychological way, by tradition and procedure.\" Despite this, Mr Spanger says most people in Como are unbothered by his husband's striking tomb. For him, the \"more is more\" approach to memorials just makes sense. \"Politicians who want to suppress colour in our cemeteries go against religious culture, which celebrates death as the passage to new life,\" he says, \"and also against non-religious culture, which wishes to remember a deceased person with happy memories from the time we shared.\" Whatever the local council decides about future graves, Mr Spanger could not be happier with his choice: part garden, part photo gallery, a Technicolor monument to love.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2125, "answer_start": 901, "text": "Historically, grey gravestones became traditional in Europe because limestone, sandstone and slate were what regional stonemasons had available. But nowadays the market is full of black granite, thanks to imports from China. Professor Douglas Davies, director of the Centre for Death and Life Studies at the University of Durham, says that when people want something more colourful, it is usually expensive and hard to obtain. But he has noticed a rise in tombstones with a touch more personality. \"It extends into things like having gravestones cut with a football motif,\" he says. \"I was looking at one recently of a traveller Gypsy family, with big horses built into the gravestone - a remarkable structure. The building of lifestyle into death-style in headstones is, I think, a dramatically increasing trend.\" Corrado Spanger, Mr Annoni's partner of 36 years, told the BBC he wanted \"a happy and colourful grave to express a sentiment of love and devotion\". \"The colours also give the impression that Carlo's life goes on somewhere else, leaving me with the impression that we are not truly separated.\" And while it might not please everyone in Italy, his approach fits perfectly with traditions elsewhere in the world." } ], "id": "163_0", "question": "Why are graves grey anyway?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4725, "answer_start": 3160, "text": "It is hard not to smile at the sight of an exuberant bird-shaped coffin, but that level of decor is not for everyone. Some consider it selfish on a permanent memorial, saying it disrupts mourners who prefer an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Psychologist Dr Sally Austen tells the BBC that grief can make us keener on conformity, as we feel adrift and yearn to be anchored by something established. Something like a conventional, dark-coloured headstone, for example. \"As we go towards death, we start behaving in a way that is more scared and worried,\" she says. \"And as if somewhere, someone who is more knowledgeable and powerful is going to expect us to behave.\" So we are taking comfort in not standing out? Perhaps, she says. \"I think it's old-school: [We think] other people have got this covered, this is what you do. This is what's reliable and safe, and this is how I too can be held, in a psychological way, by tradition and procedure.\" Despite this, Mr Spanger says most people in Como are unbothered by his husband's striking tomb. For him, the \"more is more\" approach to memorials just makes sense. \"Politicians who want to suppress colour in our cemeteries go against religious culture, which celebrates death as the passage to new life,\" he says, \"and also against non-religious culture, which wishes to remember a deceased person with happy memories from the time we shared.\" Whatever the local council decides about future graves, Mr Spanger could not be happier with his choice: part garden, part photo gallery, a Technicolor monument to love." } ], "id": "163_1", "question": "So, are most of us just being boring?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The government and Labour have held further talks aimed at breaking the deadlock in Parliament over Brexit. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said discussions with cabinet ministers David Lidington and Michael Gove had been \"positive\" and \"constructive\". He added that a timetable was being worked out for more meetings over the next seven to 10 days. EU leaders have agreed to delay the UK's departure date from 12 April to 31 October, to avoid a no-deal Brexit. But Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK can still leave before 22 May, if Parliament backs the withdrawal agreement she reached with the EU. This would avoid the UK having to take part in European Parliament elections, currently scheduled for 23 May. The UK was originally due to leave the EU on 29 March, but its departure date has been delayed twice, after the Commons rejected the withdrawal deal negotiated with the EU by large margins. The meeting between Mr McDonnell, members of Jeremy Corbyn's staff and Mr Gove and Mr Lidington lasted just over an hour. Asked if the government had moved on its \"red lines\", Mr McDonnell told reporters: \"I'm not going into the detail of it. \"We are trying to be as constructive as we possibly can on all sides... but we will see by the end of next week how far we have got.\" BBC political correspondent Iain Watson has been told that the Conservative and Labour delegations have discussed some of the fine detail of the potential changes to the \"political declaration\" - the non-legally binding part of the Brexit deal, which sets out a blueprint for future relations between the EU and UK. But he said the two sides were still some way apart on customs arrangements. Labour wants a new permanent customs union with the EU, which would allow tariff-free trade in goods. The government has repeatedly ruled out remaining in the EU's customs union, arguing it would prevent the UK from setting its own trade policy. Under EU rules, the UK will have to hold European Parliament elections in May, or face leaving on 1 June without a deal. Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Chancellor Philip Hammond said: \"Clearly nobody wants to fight the European elections. \"It feels like a pointless exercise and the only way we can avoid that is by getting a deal agreed and done quickly, and if we can do that by 22 May, we can avoid fighting the European parliamentary elections. \"In any case we want to ensure any British MEPs that are elected never have to take their seats in the European Parliament by ensuring this is all done well before the new European Parliament convenes.\" Meanwhile, the government says it will \"continue to make all necessary preparations\" for a no-deal Brexit. A government source said \"plans will evolve and adapt\", but would not stop while the chance of leaving the EU without an agreement remained. The source said that a leaked message which reportedly referred to the \"winding down\" of no-deal preparation related only to Operation Yellowhammer - the contingency planning programme based on worst-case scenarios - and not no-deal planning in general. But the government has confirmed it is stopping Operation Brock - the contraflow put on the London-bound carriageway of the M20 in Kent - \"in light of the reduced threat of disruption to services across the English Channel in the coming weeks\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3325, "answer_start": 1288, "text": "BBC political correspondent Iain Watson has been told that the Conservative and Labour delegations have discussed some of the fine detail of the potential changes to the \"political declaration\" - the non-legally binding part of the Brexit deal, which sets out a blueprint for future relations between the EU and UK. But he said the two sides were still some way apart on customs arrangements. Labour wants a new permanent customs union with the EU, which would allow tariff-free trade in goods. The government has repeatedly ruled out remaining in the EU's customs union, arguing it would prevent the UK from setting its own trade policy. Under EU rules, the UK will have to hold European Parliament elections in May, or face leaving on 1 June without a deal. Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Chancellor Philip Hammond said: \"Clearly nobody wants to fight the European elections. \"It feels like a pointless exercise and the only way we can avoid that is by getting a deal agreed and done quickly, and if we can do that by 22 May, we can avoid fighting the European parliamentary elections. \"In any case we want to ensure any British MEPs that are elected never have to take their seats in the European Parliament by ensuring this is all done well before the new European Parliament convenes.\" Meanwhile, the government says it will \"continue to make all necessary preparations\" for a no-deal Brexit. A government source said \"plans will evolve and adapt\", but would not stop while the chance of leaving the EU without an agreement remained. The source said that a leaked message which reportedly referred to the \"winding down\" of no-deal preparation related only to Operation Yellowhammer - the contingency planning programme based on worst-case scenarios - and not no-deal planning in general. But the government has confirmed it is stopping Operation Brock - the contraflow put on the London-bound carriageway of the M20 in Kent - \"in light of the reduced threat of disruption to services across the English Channel in the coming weeks\"." } ], "id": "164_0", "question": "What's happened during the talks?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The healthiest hearts in the world have been found in the Tsimane people in the forests of Bolivia, say researchers. Barely any Tsimane had signs of clogged up arteries - even well into old age - a study in the Lancet showed. \"It's an incredible population\" with radically different diets and ways of living, said the researchers. They admit the rest of the world cannot revert to a hunter-gathering and early farming existence, but said there were lessons for all of us. Tsimane is pronounced \"chee-may-nay\". There are around 16,000 Tsimane who hunt, fish and farm on the Maniqui River in the Amazon rainforest in the Bolivian lowlands. Their way of life has similarities to human civilisation thousands of years ago. It took the team of scientists and doctors multiple flights and a canoe journey to get there. - 17% of their diet is game including wild pig, tapir and capybara (the world's largest rodent) - 7% is freshwater fish including piranha and catfish - Most of the rest comes from family farms growing rice, maize, manioc root (like sweet potato) and plantains (similar to banana) - It is topped up with foraged fruit and nuts It means: - 72% of calories come from carbohydrates compared with 52% in the US - 14% from fat compared with 34% in the US, Tsimane also consume much less saturated fat - Both Americans and Tsimane have 14% of calories from protein, but Tsimane have more lean meat They are also far more physically active with the men averaging 17,000 steps a day and the women 16,000. Even the over-60s have a step count over 15,000. It makes most people's struggle to get near 10,000 seem deeply insignificant. \"They achieve a remarkable dose of exercise,\" says Dr Gregory Thomas, one of the researchers and from Long Beach Memorial medical centre in California. The scientists looked for coronary artery calcium or \"CAC\" - which is a sign of clogged up blood vessels and risk of a heart attack. The scientists scanned 705 people's hearts in a CT scanner after teaming up with a research group scanning mummified bodies. At the age of 45, almost no Tsimane had CAC in their arteries while 25% of Americans do. By the time they reach age 75, two-thirds of Tsimane are CAC-free compared with the overwhelming majority of Americans (80%) having signs of CAC. The researchers have been studying this group for a long time so it is not simply a case of the unhealthy Tsimane dying young. Michael Gurven, a professor of anthropology at University of California, Santa Barbara, told the BBC: \"It is much lower than in every other population where data exists. \"The closest were Japanese women, but it's still a different ballpark altogether.\" They also smoke a lot less, but they do get more infections which could potentially increase the risk of heart problems by causing inflammation in the body. One idea is that intestinal worms - which dampen immune reactions - could be more common and this may help protect the heart. Prof Gurven said: \"I would say we need a more holistic approach to physical exercise rather than just at the weekend. \"Bicycle to work, take the stairs, write your story on a treadmill desk.\" (I didn't) Dr Thomas said: \"It could be to maintain health we need to be exercising much more than we do. \"The modern world is keeping us alive, but urbanisation and the specialisation of the labour force could be new risk factors [for an unhealthy heart]. \"They also live in small communities, life is very social and they maintain a positive outlook.\" Dr Gavin Sandercock, reader in clinical physiology (cardiology) at the University of Essex, said: \"This is an excellent study with unique findings. \"The Tsimane get 72% of their energy from carbohydrates. \"The fact that they have the best indicators of cardiovascular health ever reported is the exact opposite to many recent suggestions that carbohydrates are unhealthy.\" Prof Naveed Sattar, from the University of Glasgow, said: \"This is a beautiful real life study which reaffirms all we understand about preventing heart disease. \"Simply put, eating a healthy diet very low in saturated fat and full of unprocessed products, not smoking and being active life long, is associated with the lowest risk of having furring up of blood vessels.\" Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 812, "answer_start": 472, "text": "Tsimane is pronounced \"chee-may-nay\". There are around 16,000 Tsimane who hunt, fish and farm on the Maniqui River in the Amazon rainforest in the Bolivian lowlands. Their way of life has similarities to human civilisation thousands of years ago. It took the team of scientists and doctors multiple flights and a canoe journey to get there." } ], "id": "165_0", "question": "Tsimane?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1787, "answer_start": 1404, "text": "They are also far more physically active with the men averaging 17,000 steps a day and the women 16,000. Even the over-60s have a step count over 15,000. It makes most people's struggle to get near 10,000 seem deeply insignificant. \"They achieve a remarkable dose of exercise,\" says Dr Gregory Thomas, one of the researchers and from Long Beach Memorial medical centre in California." } ], "id": "165_1", "question": "How fit are they?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2660, "answer_start": 1788, "text": "The scientists looked for coronary artery calcium or \"CAC\" - which is a sign of clogged up blood vessels and risk of a heart attack. The scientists scanned 705 people's hearts in a CT scanner after teaming up with a research group scanning mummified bodies. At the age of 45, almost no Tsimane had CAC in their arteries while 25% of Americans do. By the time they reach age 75, two-thirds of Tsimane are CAC-free compared with the overwhelming majority of Americans (80%) having signs of CAC. The researchers have been studying this group for a long time so it is not simply a case of the unhealthy Tsimane dying young. Michael Gurven, a professor of anthropology at University of California, Santa Barbara, told the BBC: \"It is much lower than in every other population where data exists. \"The closest were Japanese women, but it's still a different ballpark altogether.\"" } ], "id": "165_2", "question": "So how magnificent are their hearts?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2943, "answer_start": 2661, "text": "They also smoke a lot less, but they do get more infections which could potentially increase the risk of heart problems by causing inflammation in the body. One idea is that intestinal worms - which dampen immune reactions - could be more common and this may help protect the heart." } ], "id": "165_3", "question": "Is it only diet and exercise?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3489, "answer_start": 2944, "text": "Prof Gurven said: \"I would say we need a more holistic approach to physical exercise rather than just at the weekend. \"Bicycle to work, take the stairs, write your story on a treadmill desk.\" (I didn't) Dr Thomas said: \"It could be to maintain health we need to be exercising much more than we do. \"The modern world is keeping us alive, but urbanisation and the specialisation of the labour force could be new risk factors [for an unhealthy heart]. \"They also live in small communities, life is very social and they maintain a positive outlook.\"" } ], "id": "165_4", "question": "What can I learn?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4258, "answer_start": 3490, "text": "Dr Gavin Sandercock, reader in clinical physiology (cardiology) at the University of Essex, said: \"This is an excellent study with unique findings. \"The Tsimane get 72% of their energy from carbohydrates. \"The fact that they have the best indicators of cardiovascular health ever reported is the exact opposite to many recent suggestions that carbohydrates are unhealthy.\" Prof Naveed Sattar, from the University of Glasgow, said: \"This is a beautiful real life study which reaffirms all we understand about preventing heart disease. \"Simply put, eating a healthy diet very low in saturated fat and full of unprocessed products, not smoking and being active life long, is associated with the lowest risk of having furring up of blood vessels.\" Follow James on Twitter." } ], "id": "165_5", "question": "What do experts make of all this?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Facebook has a stored copy of your private messages because it doesn't use end-to-end encryption - and it's not the only one. Encryption scrambles messages so that if they're intercepted while being delivered they cannot be read. Most messaging services use a level of encryption, but there are different types. Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are other services that don't use end-to-encryption. Facebook Messenger encrypts messages by default from the sender to its server, and then encrypts them again between the server and the recipient. End-to-end encryption, used by WhatsApp, doesn't have the stop in between. Usually the only people with the 'key' to decipher an end-to-end encrypted message are the sender and the intended recipient. The messaging service can't read the message. It's particularly useful for sending sensitive information like bank details, which you wouldn't want to fall into the wrong hands or be stored anywhere online. There's been a big discussion about end-to-end encryption and the problems it causes for policing. Khalid Masood accessed WhatsApp moments before he killed four people in the Westminster terror attack. He also used iMessage and SMS. After the attack, Home Secretary Amber Rudd called it \"completely unacceptable\" that the security services couldn't access some of the content - and said \"there should be no place for terrorists to hide\". At the time, a WhatsApp spokeswoman said the company was \"horrified at the attack\" and was co-operating with the investigation. But since then, Amber Rudd has repeated her call for messaging services to work more closely with government to stop criminals misusing apps. Whatsapp, which is owned by Facebook, added end-to-end encryption by default in 2016, with Facebook saying that protecting private communication was one of its \"core beliefs\". But its native Facebook Messenger doesn't have the same levels of security. You have to specifically enable something called \"secret conversation\" within the Messenger app in order for your conversations to have end-to-end encryption. Facebook-owned Instagram does not use end-to-end encryption on the photo-sharing app, which introduced private messaging in 2013. Twitter doesn't either, while there's nothing on Snapchat's website to suggest messages on the app are completely encrypted. Its support page does say that most messages are deleted from its servers after a maximum 30 days. And Skype, which also has no information on end-to-end encryption on its website, has been trialling a \"private conversation\" option with some users. Newsbeat has contacted Snapchat and Skype for clarification. Well, as mentioned above the main player in end-to-end encrypted messaging is WhatsApp, but Apple also uses it. Its 'approach to privacy' document says it \"uses end-to-end encryption to protect your iMessage and FaceTime conversations\" across all devices. But Apple also allows users to send messages as a text if the iMessage won't go through, and text messages are not end-to-end encrypted. A lot of messaging services, like iMessage, allow you to back up to the cloud, which gives those cloud services access to your messages. 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": 3341, "answer_start": 2635, "text": "Well, as mentioned above the main player in end-to-end encrypted messaging is WhatsApp, but Apple also uses it. Its 'approach to privacy' document says it \"uses end-to-end encryption to protect your iMessage and FaceTime conversations\" across all devices. But Apple also allows users to send messages as a text if the iMessage won't go through, and text messages are not end-to-end encrypted. A lot of messaging services, like iMessage, allow you to back up to the cloud, which gives those cloud services access to your messages. 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": "166_0", "question": "So what does use end-to-end encryption?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Help to Buy housing scheme, launched in 2013, is hailed by the government as one of its big successes. The Treasury says 494,108 English homes have been bought through the scheme, with the vast majority going to first-time buyers living outside London. Ministers and mortgage lenders alike say it lifts people into home ownership by getting them on the housing ladder. But critics say it merely subsidises housebuilders and pushes up the price of new homes. Similar schemes exist in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are two main forms: Help to Buy loans and Help to Buy Individual Savings Accounts (Isas). In the first version, the government lends up to 20% of the cost of a newly built property - or 40% within Greater London - so buyers need only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage to buy it. Those purchasing a new-build home are not charged interest for the first five years. The Help to Buy Isa was launched later, in December 2015, and is open to first-time buyers in the UK. Savers receive a 25% bonus from the government when they withdraw the money they have saved to buy their first property. The maximum purchase price is PS250,000, or PS450,000 in London. The maximum government bonus that someone can receive is PS3,000, if they have saved PS12,000. Savers can deposit up to PS200 a month, although they can kick-start saving with a lump sum of PS1,200. Chancellor Philip Hammond is certainly firmly behind the scheme, which was introduced by his predecessor, George Osborne. He has extended it to run until March 2023 and says the move will support \"half a million more home purchases\". He said: \"The government supports those who dream of owning their own home and wants to help them take the first step on to the property ladder.\" Support also comes from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association. Its executive director, Kate Davies, said Help to Buy had become \"a cornerstone of the UK property market\" and provides \"essential support to the whole of the UK property sector\". She added: \"Although last year saw the highest number of first-time buyers since the financial crisis, millions of households are still waiting to get on the housing ladder and Help to Buy will continue to play a crucial role in helping some of these households into home ownership over the next four years.\" The argument against the scheme has gained ground this week, with the news that one of the UK's biggest builders of houses, Persimmon, saw its annual profits top PS1bn last year. A day earlier, the firm's share price fell 5% because of suggestions that its participation in Help to Buy was under government scrutiny. For opponents of the scheme, that just shows how dependent the firm has become on big injections of public cash. Mike Amey, managing director of global investment management firm Pimco, told the BBC that profit on a house sold by Persimmon had trebled since Help to Buy was introduced, \"roughly from PS20,000 to PS60,000\". And property expert Henry Pryor told the BBC that last year, half the number of homes Persimmon built were underpinned by support from Help to Buy. Mr Pryor said the scheme was brought in for legitimate reasons following the credit crunch, to restore confidence in the sector. But since then, it had become \"the crack cocaine of the building industry\", he said. \"When we are weaned off it, it is going to be painful,\" he added. Other big housebuilders, such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, are thought to have benefited to a similar extent. Well, it has arguably distorted the housing market by making it more advantageous to buy a new-build home than an existing one. Research by investment bank Morgan Stanley in 2017 said the price gap between new homes and second-hand ones had set a new record. \"There has always been a small premium for new-build; people will pay extra for spanking-new kitchens and bathrooms. But since 2013, that premium has rocketed,\" it said. For Mark Dyason, managing director of specialist property broker Thistle Finance, Help to Buy could come to a sticky end when the scheme is finally wound up. He said: \"Help to Buy is in much the same vein as low [interest] rates since the global financial crisis. \"They have kept the economy going, but equally they have kicked the can down the road. \"The Help to Buy scheme is arguably a hollow victory, with the potential to cause all manner of problems, both for the buyers who have used it and the developers that have offered it.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1379, "answer_start": 525, "text": "There are two main forms: Help to Buy loans and Help to Buy Individual Savings Accounts (Isas). In the first version, the government lends up to 20% of the cost of a newly built property - or 40% within Greater London - so buyers need only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage to buy it. Those purchasing a new-build home are not charged interest for the first five years. The Help to Buy Isa was launched later, in December 2015, and is open to first-time buyers in the UK. Savers receive a 25% bonus from the government when they withdraw the money they have saved to buy their first property. The maximum purchase price is PS250,000, or PS450,000 in London. The maximum government bonus that someone can receive is PS3,000, if they have saved PS12,000. Savers can deposit up to PS200 a month, although they can kick-start saving with a lump sum of PS1,200." } ], "id": "167_0", "question": "What is Help to Buy anyway?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2319, "answer_start": 1380, "text": "Chancellor Philip Hammond is certainly firmly behind the scheme, which was introduced by his predecessor, George Osborne. He has extended it to run until March 2023 and says the move will support \"half a million more home purchases\". He said: \"The government supports those who dream of owning their own home and wants to help them take the first step on to the property ladder.\" Support also comes from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association. Its executive director, Kate Davies, said Help to Buy had become \"a cornerstone of the UK property market\" and provides \"essential support to the whole of the UK property sector\". She added: \"Although last year saw the highest number of first-time buyers since the financial crisis, millions of households are still waiting to get on the housing ladder and Help to Buy will continue to play a crucial role in helping some of these households into home ownership over the next four years.\"" } ], "id": "167_1", "question": "What are the arguments in favour?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3498, "answer_start": 2320, "text": "The argument against the scheme has gained ground this week, with the news that one of the UK's biggest builders of houses, Persimmon, saw its annual profits top PS1bn last year. A day earlier, the firm's share price fell 5% because of suggestions that its participation in Help to Buy was under government scrutiny. For opponents of the scheme, that just shows how dependent the firm has become on big injections of public cash. Mike Amey, managing director of global investment management firm Pimco, told the BBC that profit on a house sold by Persimmon had trebled since Help to Buy was introduced, \"roughly from PS20,000 to PS60,000\". And property expert Henry Pryor told the BBC that last year, half the number of homes Persimmon built were underpinned by support from Help to Buy. Mr Pryor said the scheme was brought in for legitimate reasons following the credit crunch, to restore confidence in the sector. But since then, it had become \"the crack cocaine of the building industry\", he said. \"When we are weaned off it, it is going to be painful,\" he added. Other big housebuilders, such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, are thought to have benefited to a similar extent." } ], "id": "167_2", "question": "So what's the problem?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4463, "answer_start": 3499, "text": "Well, it has arguably distorted the housing market by making it more advantageous to buy a new-build home than an existing one. Research by investment bank Morgan Stanley in 2017 said the price gap between new homes and second-hand ones had set a new record. \"There has always been a small premium for new-build; people will pay extra for spanking-new kitchens and bathrooms. But since 2013, that premium has rocketed,\" it said. For Mark Dyason, managing director of specialist property broker Thistle Finance, Help to Buy could come to a sticky end when the scheme is finally wound up. He said: \"Help to Buy is in much the same vein as low [interest] rates since the global financial crisis. \"They have kept the economy going, but equally they have kicked the can down the road. \"The Help to Buy scheme is arguably a hollow victory, with the potential to cause all manner of problems, both for the buyers who have used it and the developers that have offered it.\"" } ], "id": "167_3", "question": "Are there other unintended consequences?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The BBC, home to crime dramas Luther and Line of Duty, and ITV, maker of dramas such as Vanity Fair, are in the \"concluding phase of talks\" to create a rival to Netflix. BBC director general Tony Hall said the aim was to launch \"BritBox\" in the UK in the second half of 2019. The price was not announced but Lord Hall said it would be \"competitive\". ITV's chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said it would be home for the \"best of British creativity\". There are reports it could cost PS5 a month. The two organisations already have a BritBox streaming service in North America, which Lord Hall said was performing \"ahead of expectations\". It has 500,000 subscribers. \"Research with the British public shows that there is a real appetite for a new British streaming service - in addition to their current subscriptions,\" he said. Dame Carolyn told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that 43% of all homes which use the Internet are interested in a subscription to BritBox. For homes which already subscribe to Netflix, she said that increased to half of all homes. \"There is a window of opportunity here,\" she said. ITV will spend PS25m on the venture this year and PS40m in 2020. The BBC did not disclose how much it was spending but Dani Warner, TV expert at uSwitch, said it \"could be a good way for the BBC especially to recoup losses from Brits abandoning the licence fee for subscription models\". It is understood licence fee money will not be used to pay for the service. The new venture is not intended to replace the BBC's iPlayer or the ITV Hub - the on-demand services where programmes are available for a restricted period of time. It is expected to have box sets from the BBC and ITV archives. There will also be some programmes commissioned only for BritBox. Shows would appear on the relevant channels, then on the on-demand services before going on to BritBox. It would be \"one permanent, comprehensive home where anyone in Britain can get all of our library content - both the ITV and BBC library - in one place and they can watch it anytime, anywhere,\" Dame Carolyn told Today. The details have not been announced but BBC shows which are no longer aired regularly - such as Absolutely Fabulous - may be available. ITV dramas such as Vera and Endeavour - and its predecessor Morse - are also likely contenders. Dame Carolyn said that existing licensing agreements with Netflix will be honoured. For instance, last year, Netflix acquired the rights to the BBC show Bodyguard - from ITV Studios which owns the production company which made the drama. Two inescapable trends are driving the TV business around the world today - one in consumer behaviour, the other in business strategy. The first is exponential growth in streaming, with an accompanied decline in scheduled TV. The second is consolidation among content providers who are desperately seeking scale. Britbox is a marriage of the two. For the BBC, the iPlayer is still a small part of overall viewing, but the key growth area, especially among the younger audiences who much prefer other digital platforms, particularly YouTube. ITV faces a hugely different set of challenges. It is a mostly ad-funded, linear channel - the opposite of Netflix, a subscriber-driven, streaming service. Clubbing together to offer the maximum amount of content allows the BBC and ITV to provide a better service than they could alone, at a time when other media giants, such as Disney, are pulling out of Netflix to launch their own direct-to-consumer offering. Read more from Amol Rajan An idea for streaming service - known as Project Kangaroo - was blocked by the competition authorities nine years ago. Dame Carolyn told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that the industry had changed since then. Both the Competition and Markets Authority and media regulator Ofcom are being consulted on this latest venture. Regulator Ofcom said it was looking forward to discussing the plan with ITV and the BBC. \"We want to see broadcasters collaborating to keep pace with global players, by offering quality UK content that's available to viewers whenever and however they want to watch it.\" ITV said talks with Channel 4 and Channel 5 to join the venture were ongoing. The announcement came as ITV reported 2018 profits of PS567m, up 13% in what Dame Carolyn said was an \"uncertain economic and political environment\". ITV's shares were down more than 2.5% in early trading as it admitted that advertising in the first four months of the year was forecast to be down 3% to 4%. \"It is an uncertain economic world at the moment for the UK... our customers [advertisers] are more cautious because they are contingency planning and we expected it to be to be slow,\" she told Today. The comparison with last year will also be lower because of the football World Cup in June which boosted advertising.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1472, "answer_start": 497, "text": "The two organisations already have a BritBox streaming service in North America, which Lord Hall said was performing \"ahead of expectations\". It has 500,000 subscribers. \"Research with the British public shows that there is a real appetite for a new British streaming service - in addition to their current subscriptions,\" he said. Dame Carolyn told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that 43% of all homes which use the Internet are interested in a subscription to BritBox. For homes which already subscribe to Netflix, she said that increased to half of all homes. \"There is a window of opportunity here,\" she said. ITV will spend PS25m on the venture this year and PS40m in 2020. The BBC did not disclose how much it was spending but Dani Warner, TV expert at uSwitch, said it \"could be a good way for the BBC especially to recoup losses from Brits abandoning the licence fee for subscription models\". It is understood licence fee money will not be used to pay for the service." } ], "id": "168_0", "question": "Do viewers want a streaming service?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2090, "answer_start": 1473, "text": "The new venture is not intended to replace the BBC's iPlayer or the ITV Hub - the on-demand services where programmes are available for a restricted period of time. It is expected to have box sets from the BBC and ITV archives. There will also be some programmes commissioned only for BritBox. Shows would appear on the relevant channels, then on the on-demand services before going on to BritBox. It would be \"one permanent, comprehensive home where anyone in Britain can get all of our library content - both the ITV and BBC library - in one place and they can watch it anytime, anywhere,\" Dame Carolyn told Today." } ], "id": "168_1", "question": "What happens to iPlayer and ITV Hub?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2560, "answer_start": 2091, "text": "The details have not been announced but BBC shows which are no longer aired regularly - such as Absolutely Fabulous - may be available. ITV dramas such as Vera and Endeavour - and its predecessor Morse - are also likely contenders. Dame Carolyn said that existing licensing agreements with Netflix will be honoured. For instance, last year, Netflix acquired the rights to the BBC show Bodyguard - from ITV Studios which owns the production company which made the drama." } ], "id": "168_2", "question": "What will be on BritBox?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4211, "answer_start": 3542, "text": "An idea for streaming service - known as Project Kangaroo - was blocked by the competition authorities nine years ago. Dame Carolyn told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that the industry had changed since then. Both the Competition and Markets Authority and media regulator Ofcom are being consulted on this latest venture. Regulator Ofcom said it was looking forward to discussing the plan with ITV and the BBC. \"We want to see broadcasters collaborating to keep pace with global players, by offering quality UK content that's available to viewers whenever and however they want to watch it.\" ITV said talks with Channel 4 and Channel 5 to join the venture were ongoing." } ], "id": "168_3", "question": "What could get in the way?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4839, "answer_start": 4212, "text": "The announcement came as ITV reported 2018 profits of PS567m, up 13% in what Dame Carolyn said was an \"uncertain economic and political environment\". ITV's shares were down more than 2.5% in early trading as it admitted that advertising in the first four months of the year was forecast to be down 3% to 4%. \"It is an uncertain economic world at the moment for the UK... our customers [advertisers] are more cautious because they are contingency planning and we expected it to be to be slow,\" she told Today. The comparison with last year will also be lower because of the football World Cup in June which boosted advertising." } ], "id": "168_4", "question": "How is ITV performing?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UN has strongly criticised the government of Myanmar over its treatment of the minority Rohingya Muslim population. The UN's Human Rights Office said it was receiving daily reports of rapes, killings and other abuses. Human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein said the government approach was \"counterproductive, even callous\". At least 86 Rohingya have been killed and more than 27,000 forced to flee military operations in Rakhine state. The government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, says it is conducting counter-terrorism operations in the region but has denied reports of atrocities. Most of the displaced Rohingya have fled across the border into Bangladesh. Who will help Myanmar's Rohingya? \"The repeated dismissal of the claims of serious human rights violations as fabrications, coupled with the failure to allow our independent monitors access to the worst affected areas in northern Rakhine, is highly insulting to the victims and an abdication of the government's obligations under international human rights law,\" Mr Hussein said in a statement. \"If the authorities have nothing to hide, then why is there such reluctance to grant us access? Given the continued failure to grant us access, we can only fear the worst.\" A spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Adrian Edwards, said his colleagues in Bangladesh had heard accounts of abuses from Rohingya refugees. They included traumatised women and children who had witnessed the killing of family members. He said the UNHCR could not verify the accounts but it was extremely concerned. Independent journalists have not been allowed into northern Rakhine since armed militants attacked border posts in Maungdaw on 9 October, killing nine policemen. The Myanmar government, which is led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has faced international criticism over the situation there. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said new satellite images established a link between the military and the burning of Rohingya villages. It said the images showed military trucks were active nearby when the village of Wa Peik was being burned in November. The government would not comment on the HRW report but said a team had been sent to the affected villages and its findings were expected to be released at the end of January. The estimated one million Muslim Rohingya are seen by many in mainly Buddhist Myanmar as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They are denied citizenship by the government despite many having lived there for generations. Communal violence in Rakhine state in 2012 left scores dead and displaced more than 100,000 people, with many Rohingya still remaining in decrepit camps. They face widespread discrimination and mistreatment. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Rohingya are estimated to live in Bangladesh, having left Myanmar over decades.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2841, "answer_start": 2298, "text": "The estimated one million Muslim Rohingya are seen by many in mainly Buddhist Myanmar as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They are denied citizenship by the government despite many having lived there for generations. Communal violence in Rakhine state in 2012 left scores dead and displaced more than 100,000 people, with many Rohingya still remaining in decrepit camps. They face widespread discrimination and mistreatment. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Rohingya are estimated to live in Bangladesh, having left Myanmar over decades." } ], "id": "169_0", "question": "Who are the Rohingya?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UK's new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is on an official visit to China - but an embarrassing gaffe is stealing the headlines instead. Mr Hunt tried to get into his host's good books by mentioning that his wife is Chinese - but called her \"Japanese\" instead. He quickly corrected himself and those at the meeting laughed it off. But the gaffe is making headlines and, as Mr Hunt himself says, it's a \"terrible mistake to make\". Lucia Guo was born in Xian in central China. She and Mr Hunt met in 2008, when she was working at Warwick University. They have three children. Mr Hunt was at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when he said, in English: \"My wife is Japanese - my wife is Chinese. Sorry, that's a terrible mistake to make.\" He explained that he and Mr Wang \"spoke in Japanese at the state banquet\", before going on to say: \"My wife is Chinese and my children are half-Chinese and so we have Chinese grandparents who live in Xian and strong family connections in China.\" So why was this such a gaffe? Confusing China with any other country is bad if you're trying to curry favour with the Chinese government. But of all the countries to get confused with, Japan is probably the worst one. That's because the two countries have had a particularly bitter relationship for decades. They fought each other in two Sino-Japanese wars, and are also in a dispute over territory in the East China Sea. Among China's older generation, there are plenty of people who are reluctant to buy Japanese products or go to Japan on holiday - because they accuse Japan of playing down its wartime atrocities. And there were several anti-Japanese protests across China in 2012, when tensions over the disputed islands flared up. It's easy for anyone to make a slip of the tongue, or get confused about someone's ethnicity. Mr Hunt speaks Japanese and worked in Japan - and says he spoke with Mr Wang in Japanese - which might explain why it was on his mind at the meeting. But even then, it's awkward explaining why \"Japanese\" slipped out at a conference with Chinese officials - especially since he was talking about his own wife. Speaking of which... There's a common joke that East Asians \"all look the same\" - and many East Asians have complained that people make lazy assumptions about what ethnicity they are. For example, I've had people yell \"Konnichiwa\" (a Japanese greeting) at me even though I'm ethnic Chinese, while my British Japanese friend has faced several \"Ni Haos\" (hello in Chinese) from strangers. Most East Asians I know would agree that it's not the worst mistake someone could make - but it's still pretty annoying. Mr Hunt's gaffe may have been an innocent slip of the tongue - but it's a pretty unfortunate mistake to have made in this context. And, more importantly for Mr Hunt - it's not going to impress his hosts, which was the whole point of him mentioning his wife in the first place. Given China's rising status as a world power, and the clout of its consumers, lots of politicians and businesses have been trying to endear themselves to the Chinese. But it's easier said than done. Both Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to impress Chinese audiences by speaking Mandarin - to mixed reviews. And having Chinese family ties doesn't necessarily mean smooth sailing with China either. For example, Gary Locke served as the US ambassador to China from 2011 to 2013, and made headlines for being the first Chinese-American in the role. But he still faced criticism from Chinese media, especially when ties were strained - such as when the US embassy in Beijing gave refuge to Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng. State newspaper The Global Times made the point of reminding the public that Mr Locke was just a \"normal\" US politician serving Washington's interests, despite his Chinese ethnicity.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3874, "answer_start": 2923, "text": "Given China's rising status as a world power, and the clout of its consumers, lots of politicians and businesses have been trying to endear themselves to the Chinese. But it's easier said than done. Both Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to impress Chinese audiences by speaking Mandarin - to mixed reviews. And having Chinese family ties doesn't necessarily mean smooth sailing with China either. For example, Gary Locke served as the US ambassador to China from 2011 to 2013, and made headlines for being the first Chinese-American in the role. But he still faced criticism from Chinese media, especially when ties were strained - such as when the US embassy in Beijing gave refuge to Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng. State newspaper The Global Times made the point of reminding the public that Mr Locke was just a \"normal\" US politician serving Washington's interests, despite his Chinese ethnicity." } ], "id": "170_0", "question": "4. Would it have worked anyway?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Horse racing in the city of Adelaide is to go ahead on Friday despite a continuing extreme heatwave across much of Australia, the organisers say. They say the decision on the twilight racing was taken after talks with meteorologists and South Australia's jockeys' and trainers' associations. The event will start at 17:00 local time, albeit with a reduced number of races and more precautionary measures. Opponents say the racing will put jockeys and horses in danger. Hundreds of firefighters have been battling raging wildfires in South Australia and New South Wales. Officials warn that the heatwave could bring the nation's hottest day on record. Temperatures may exceed the 50.7C (123.26F) record set in Oodnadatta, South Australia, in 1960, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Thoroughbred Racing SA (TRSA) issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that \"at this point of time\" the race in Adelaide's suburb of Morphettville would go ahead on 20 December. The number of races would be cut from nine to seven, and an extra veterinarian will be present. In addition, the TRSA said a number of precautionary measure would be implemented, including: - Activating the water misters and fans in the horse stalls area - Placing water buckets and hoses in the mounting yard, and parade ring areas and water/ice supplies at the barriers - Intervals between races - allowing, where possible, for a 30-minute gap between races - Reducing the requirement for horses to be on course from two hours to one hour prior to their engagements \"We have raced under similar conditions to this before so there's nothing to suggest we shouldn't... post-five o'clock will be sub-40C temperatures,\" TRSA chairman of stewards Johan Petzer was quoted as saying by Australia's ABC public broadcaster. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) condemned the TRSA's decision, urging them to cancel Friday's event. It said this was an example of the horse racing industry \"not caring about the [animals] they profit from\". \"Those horses are already under immense stress and immense pressure, and we see that with so many dying on the track each year, so to add that additional stress and pressure on them is absolutely unacceptable,\" CPR spokesperson Kristin Leigh said. Officials are warning about a \"mega blaze\", which has spread beyond containment lines and razed 20 houses near Sydney. The fire, burning over about 400,000 hectares (988421 acres), has moved further into the Blue Mountains - a popular tourist area that lies west of the city. It is a blow to crews who are already battling over 100 fires and bracing for extreme temperatures this week. Since September, six people have died in a bushfire crisis that has engulfed the eastern states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. The heatwave forecast for later this week will exacerbate those conditions. Across the nation, temperatures are set to exceed 40C in many areas. Parts of Sydney could reach 46C by the end of the week, meteorologists say.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1778, "answer_start": 787, "text": "Thoroughbred Racing SA (TRSA) issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that \"at this point of time\" the race in Adelaide's suburb of Morphettville would go ahead on 20 December. The number of races would be cut from nine to seven, and an extra veterinarian will be present. In addition, the TRSA said a number of precautionary measure would be implemented, including: - Activating the water misters and fans in the horse stalls area - Placing water buckets and hoses in the mounting yard, and parade ring areas and water/ice supplies at the barriers - Intervals between races - allowing, where possible, for a 30-minute gap between races - Reducing the requirement for horses to be on course from two hours to one hour prior to their engagements \"We have raced under similar conditions to this before so there's nothing to suggest we shouldn't... post-five o'clock will be sub-40C temperatures,\" TRSA chairman of stewards Johan Petzer was quoted as saying by Australia's ABC public broadcaster." } ], "id": "171_0", "question": "What did the organisers say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2256, "answer_start": 1779, "text": "The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) condemned the TRSA's decision, urging them to cancel Friday's event. It said this was an example of the horse racing industry \"not caring about the [animals] they profit from\". \"Those horses are already under immense stress and immense pressure, and we see that with so many dying on the track each year, so to add that additional stress and pressure on them is absolutely unacceptable,\" CPR spokesperson Kristin Leigh said." } ], "id": "171_1", "question": "What has the reaction been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3000, "answer_start": 2257, "text": "Officials are warning about a \"mega blaze\", which has spread beyond containment lines and razed 20 houses near Sydney. The fire, burning over about 400,000 hectares (988421 acres), has moved further into the Blue Mountains - a popular tourist area that lies west of the city. It is a blow to crews who are already battling over 100 fires and bracing for extreme temperatures this week. Since September, six people have died in a bushfire crisis that has engulfed the eastern states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. The heatwave forecast for later this week will exacerbate those conditions. Across the nation, temperatures are set to exceed 40C in many areas. Parts of Sydney could reach 46C by the end of the week, meteorologists say." } ], "id": "171_2", "question": "What's the latest on fires?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Greece's new centre-right prime minister has vowed the country will \"proudly raise its head again\". After New Democracy's landslide victory on Sunday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he would not fail to \"honour the hopes\" of the Greek people. The win comes four years after Alexis Tsipras's leftist Syriza party swept to power promising an end to austerity. But voters began to turn on Syriza after it accepted tough fiscal measures in return for an international bailout. Unemployment and a shrinking economy further damaged support. In the election, Mr Tsipras's Syriza came second, with just 31.53% of the vote so far, according to official figures released after almost all districts returned their results. New Democracy, meanwhile, has won 39.85% so far, which would give them an outright majority as the winner receives 50 extra seats in parliament. Mr Mitsotakis - the son of former Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis - said the result gave him a strong mandate for change, but added he would be a prime minister for all, because Greeks were \"too few to stay divided\". The prime minister, who was sworn in at a ceremony on Monday, has promised lower taxes, greater privatisation of public services and plans to renegotiate a deal with Greece's creditors that would allow more money to be reinvested in the country. \"I want to see this people prosper. I want to see the children who left to return,\" he told supporters. Outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Mr Mitsotakis on his \"clear victory\". 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. 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. Turnout in the election was about 57% - one of the lowest figures in decades. Voting is technically compulsory in the country, though the rule is not enforced. Prime Minister Tsipras 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. But Mr Mitsotakis was able to attack 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. - Greece was badly hit by the 2008 financial crisis - Since 2010, when Greece revealed a sky-high budget deficit, the country has borrowed EUR289bn (PS259bn; $330bn) in bailouts from the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) - money it could take decades to pay back - Greece officially \"exited\" the bailout programme last August as growth returned - The IMF has predicted GDP would grow 2.4% in 2019 - up from 2.1% in 2018. However, it has a long way to go until it reaches the pre-crisis levels - Greece's unemployment rate has also been improving. It was 18.2% in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 28% at the height of the crisis - But youth unemployment remains very high, standing at almost 40% in January The party has been elected vowing to \"kick start\" the economy, with Mr Mitsotakis telling news agency AFP growth would be boosted \"by private investments, exports and innovation\". New Democracy has also promised to lower taxes and privatise services in the country. Mr Mitsotakis has argued for cutting corporation tax and pledged to reduce youth unemployment - which has averaged 30% for more than 20 years. New Democracy counts many 18-24 year olds among its supporters, so solving this particular crisis could prove Mr Mitsotakis' biggest test. His promise to renegotiate Greece's fiscal targets with creditors is also likely to have proved popular in a country where there is lingering discontent over the measures imposed in exchange for the bailout. 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. Greek media also report a ballot box was stolen by an unidentified group which had forced its way into one polling station.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3451, "answer_start": 2743, "text": "Prime Minister Tsipras 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. But Mr Mitsotakis was able to attack 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": "172_0", "question": "What happened to Syriza's support?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4926, "answer_start": 4171, "text": "The party has been elected vowing to \"kick start\" the economy, with Mr Mitsotakis telling news agency AFP growth would be boosted \"by private investments, exports and innovation\". New Democracy has also promised to lower taxes and privatise services in the country. Mr Mitsotakis has argued for cutting corporation tax and pledged to reduce youth unemployment - which has averaged 30% for more than 20 years. New Democracy counts many 18-24 year olds among its supporters, so solving this particular crisis could prove Mr Mitsotakis' biggest test. His promise to renegotiate Greece's fiscal targets with creditors is also likely to have proved popular in a country where there is lingering discontent over the measures imposed in exchange for the bailout." } ], "id": "172_1", "question": "What is New Democracy promising?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5413, "answer_start": 4927, "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. Greek media also report a ballot box was stolen by an unidentified group which had forced its way into one polling station." } ], "id": "172_2", "question": "How did other parties fare?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Two people have died in Japan and several are in a critical condition after choking on traditional rice cakes as part of the new year celebrations. They may seem harmless, but each year the hard-to-eat snack claims several lives, prompting annual warnings from officials. The cakes, known as mochi, are cute round buns made of soft and chewy rice. The rice is first steamed and then pounded and mashed. The resulting sticky rice mass is then formed into the final mochi shape and baked or boiled. Families traditionally celebrate New Year by cooking a vegetable broth in which they heat the mochi. The buns are chewy and sticky. Given they are far bigger than bite-sized, they need to be laboriously chewed before swallowing. Anyone who can't chew properly - like children, or the elderly - will be likely to find them hard to eat. If not chewed but simply swallowed, the sticky mochi gets stuck in the throat - and can lead to suffocation. According to Japanese media, 90% of those rushed to hospital from choking on their new year's dish are people aged 65 or older. Chew, chew, chew. If that's not possible, the rice cakes need to be cut into smaller pieces. Each year, authorities issue public warnings in the run-up to the new year festivities advising that people - especially the very young and elderly - should only eat mochi cut down to smaller little chunks. Yet despite the warnings, each year there continue to be deaths linked to the dish. At the turn of 2014 to 2015, the number of casualties peaked at nine. In 2016 it was one, while last year two people died. Each year, many more end up in critical condition in hospitals across the country. Picture perfect? How Instagram changed the food we eat New year beachgoers' crafty bid to avoid booze ban Top five celeb 'diets to avoid' in 2018", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 597, "answer_start": 272, "text": "The cakes, known as mochi, are cute round buns made of soft and chewy rice. The rice is first steamed and then pounded and mashed. The resulting sticky rice mass is then formed into the final mochi shape and baked or boiled. Families traditionally celebrate New Year by cooking a vegetable broth in which they heat the mochi." } ], "id": "173_0", "question": "What is a mochi?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1068, "answer_start": 598, "text": "The buns are chewy and sticky. Given they are far bigger than bite-sized, they need to be laboriously chewed before swallowing. Anyone who can't chew properly - like children, or the elderly - will be likely to find them hard to eat. If not chewed but simply swallowed, the sticky mochi gets stuck in the throat - and can lead to suffocation. According to Japanese media, 90% of those rushed to hospital from choking on their new year's dish are people aged 65 or older." } ], "id": "173_1", "question": "How do they kill?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "In explaining its shock decision to delay the deal on Hinkley Point, the government said it needed time to consider all components of the deal, but speculation is growing that China questions may be at the heart of the reassessment. Under the existing terms of the PS18bn project, a Chinese company is to finance a third of the new Hinkley Point C reactors and may later build a Chinese-designed nuclear power station in Essex. So what's the difference between a French company and a Chinese one when it comes to the UK's critical infrastructure? How you answer that question depends on your assessment of China and its intentions. This is a fiendishly difficult calculation. China is a moving target, and a huge, contradictory and complex one at that. In 2016 it is already not the country that David Cameron faced when he became prime minister six years ago. and not the China that former George Osborne set out to woo for investment in the UK's infrastructure upgrade. Beijing is more powerful and its global agenda more assertive. At home, its political crackdown puts it increasingly at odds with British values. Should any of this matter? The UK already has a Chinese company, Huawei, running key parts of its telecommunications network. Arguably nuclear energy is likewise a business relationship subject to similar national security safeguards. But led by the United States, several other western countries have barred Huawei's involvement in key telecommunications networks on national security grounds. And no other major developed economy has invited Chinese involvement in a key nuclear energy project. Two years ago the German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked her Australian counterpart what drove his country's policy on China, and he answered \"fear and greed\". In the absence of political change in China, this blunt assessment sums up the calculus for many countries, though the exact proportions of each differ depending on circumstance. Some in the British political and security establishment felt that under the previous government's declared \"golden era\" with China, there was not enough fear in London and too much greed. One such was the prime minister's joint chief of staff Nick Timothy. In comments which have received enormous scrutiny since Thursday night's surprise announcement that the Hinkley Point deal would be delayed, Mr Timothy wrote last October on the eve of the Chinese president's state visit to the UK: \"Security experts - reportedly inside as well as outside government - are worried that the Chinese could use their role to build weaknesses into computer systems which will allow them to shut down Britain's energy production at will... \"MI5 believes that 'the intelligence services of... China... continue to work against UK interests at home and abroad'.\" According to the former Business Secretary Vince Cable, the then home secretary did raise national security concerns about the Hinkley Point deal in cabinet. Sir Vince described Mrs May as \"unhappy about the rather gung-ho approach to Chinese investment that we had, and that George Osborne in particular was promoting and, as I recall, raised objections to Hinkley at that time\". Interestingly, Mrs May's less \"gung ho\" attitude on China was already evident in another dimension. As home secretary, she intervened personally when it emerged that the dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei had been granted only a 20-day visa to launch his exhibition at London's Royal Academy. Ms May overturned that decision, ordered a six-month visa and apologised to Mr Ai. So perhaps we will see a more nuanced policy to China under this new government. But this, too, is hard to get right. Some in the business and political community will remind Mrs May that her predecessor learned early what it was to feel Beijing's wrath when he ignored Chinese protests and met the Dalai Lama in 2012. As a result, no senior figure in the British government was invited to China for the following 18 months - and when Mr Cameron did finally visit, it was after George Osborne had wrested control of UK-China policy from the more cautious Foreign Office to launch what he called \"the next big step\", a very business-oriented relationship which culminated in President Xi's state visit to the UK last October. It's worth remembering that the Hinkley Point deal was the centrepiece of that visit, the symbol of the \"golden era\" in relations that both governments hoped to launch. And Beijing has good reason for investing political capital in the nuclear energy relationship. China has more than 30 nuclear power stations at home and nearly as many under construction. Exporting its nuclear technology is now the priority, and although it has customers like Pakistan in the developing world, the UK's track record and internationally respected safety regime would make it a hugely valuable showcase. China's embassy in London said on Saturday that Chinese involvement in Hinkley Point is a \"win-win\", and UK enthusiasts insists Chinese technology is cheap and safe and that China has too much at stake to want to \"shut down Britain's energy production at will\", as Mr Timothy put it. But if at the end of her review, Mrs May does decide she's unsure about future Chinese intentions and wants to renegotiate, what will happen? Could she have Chinese investment for Hinkley Point without any strings attached about a Chinese-designed and built nuclear power station down the line? At this point, we just don't know, but one answer may be no, and if she then walks away, she risks making China angry. Now that would cause problems for another stated government goal. Mrs May is only prime minister because of the Brexit vote, and in a world where the UK stands outside the European Union, it may want to work harder at its economic relationship China. Last weekend, Chancellor Philip Hammond was in Beijing and raised the possibility of a free trade agreement. If Chinese pique over a reverse on nuclear energy landed the British government back on what many in Whitehall called China's \"naughty step\", trade negotiations would go into the freezer and howls of protest would follow from those in the business community who were hoping to realise Mr Osborne's \"golden decade\" in economic relations. It's possible that Mrs May won't get to this point in her reassessment, but if she does, she may reflect that if China is minded to exact a price for a change of heart on a business deal, the price for other differences of opinion might become unacceptably high if the same China was in control of a British nuclear power station. Which then brings the prime minister to the question of how other world leaders manage difficulties in their relationship with China. Size and strategic dominance puts the United States in a different class, but there's an interesting model closer to home. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel manages to have a close and profitable business relationship with Beijing at the same time as being much more robust in defence of German interests, and much more vocal on other issues like China's territorial assertiveness and its crackdown on human rights and freedom of speech. In Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne, Chinese leaders have grown used to British partners who kept most differences behind closed doors, whether on steel dumping, Hong Kong, locking up lawyers or the South China Sea. It would be an ironic twist if one result of the Brexit vote was a reset of UK China policy which put that policy back in line with its more robust EU partners. A month ago, Brexit looked like one set of problems for China, mostly focused on economic fears. Now with her Hinkley Point pause, Ms May has delivered a wholly new set of problems. But while Chinese leaders may not like the unpredictable and inconvenient U-turns in policy and style that come with messy democracies, they are increasingly adept at handling them. From the United States to Sri Lanka and Myanmar, Beijing plays a long and pragmatic game when it comes to new governments. So China liked the Cameron-Osborne team and got used to the chancellor calling the tune on UK-China policy. But with this signal that key decision making has moved from No 11 to No 10 Downing St, Beijing will be working hard to map the players in the May team, and when the prime minister finishes her assessment of the Hinkley Point deal and announces the outcome, you can be sure Beijing will be ready for her.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4870, "answer_start": 2800, "text": "According to the former Business Secretary Vince Cable, the then home secretary did raise national security concerns about the Hinkley Point deal in cabinet. Sir Vince described Mrs May as \"unhappy about the rather gung-ho approach to Chinese investment that we had, and that George Osborne in particular was promoting and, as I recall, raised objections to Hinkley at that time\". Interestingly, Mrs May's less \"gung ho\" attitude on China was already evident in another dimension. As home secretary, she intervened personally when it emerged that the dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei had been granted only a 20-day visa to launch his exhibition at London's Royal Academy. Ms May overturned that decision, ordered a six-month visa and apologised to Mr Ai. So perhaps we will see a more nuanced policy to China under this new government. But this, too, is hard to get right. Some in the business and political community will remind Mrs May that her predecessor learned early what it was to feel Beijing's wrath when he ignored Chinese protests and met the Dalai Lama in 2012. As a result, no senior figure in the British government was invited to China for the following 18 months - and when Mr Cameron did finally visit, it was after George Osborne had wrested control of UK-China policy from the more cautious Foreign Office to launch what he called \"the next big step\", a very business-oriented relationship which culminated in President Xi's state visit to the UK last October. It's worth remembering that the Hinkley Point deal was the centrepiece of that visit, the symbol of the \"golden era\" in relations that both governments hoped to launch. And Beijing has good reason for investing political capital in the nuclear energy relationship. China has more than 30 nuclear power stations at home and nearly as many under construction. Exporting its nuclear technology is now the priority, and although it has customers like Pakistan in the developing world, the UK's track record and internationally respected safety regime would make it a hugely valuable showcase." } ], "id": "174_0", "question": "Is Mrs May worried?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Web hosting firm 123-reg has accidentally deleted an unspecified number of its customers' websites. The company, which hosts 1.7m sites in the UK, said an error made during maintenance \"effectively deleted\" what was on some of its servers. \"We can conclude that the issues faced have resulted in some data loss for some customers,\" the firm admitted. It started a \"recovery process\", but advised customers with their own data backup to rebuild their own websites. The web host, which has 800,000 customers in the UK, would not say how many websites had been deleted but said it was a \"small proportion\". Websites are hosted on computers called servers that can dish up pages to thousands or millions of people at the same time. Some people pay for a private server - a dedicated computer that hosts only their website - but this can be expensive. A cheaper option is a virtual private server (VPS) - a machine that can host hundreds of websites, but mimics the functionality of a private server. The company said it was performing a \"clean-up\" operation on its VPS systems when a coding error in its software \"effectively deleted\" customer websites. Since the maintenance mistake was made on a virtual private server it was able to wipe out many websites in one go. 123-reg told the BBC it did not have a backup copy of all its customers' data, but was working with a data recovery specialist to \"manage the process of restoration\". \"Our VPS product is an unmanaged service and we always recommend that customers implement backups to safeguard against unexpected issues,\" the company said. \"Customers who had purchased 123-reg backups can be online now.\" \"Many of our customers keep their own backups.\" The data loss has left the affected online businesses without a website to trade from and 123-reg has been flooded with messages on social media criticising its limited communication. One customer noted: \"Fault still described as 'VPS connectivity issues' when in fact it seems they lost everything.\" \"There must be some information available right? What exactly are they working on?\" asked another. \"We need details as we need to start planning on how to salvage anything.\" \"This will wreck my business and plenty of others,\" said another affected company. In an email sent to customers on Sunday, 123-reg said it had \"begun copying recovered VPS images to new hosts\" and expected some websites to be restored overnight. It said it would audit all its automated scripts and prevent customer websites from being deleted without human approval in the future. \"The fault was limited to 67 servers out of 115,000 across Europe,\" the company said. \"We are investigating the restoration of each VPS on a case-by-case basis and are working individually with customers to keep them informed of the website recovery process.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1265, "answer_start": 604, "text": "Websites are hosted on computers called servers that can dish up pages to thousands or millions of people at the same time. Some people pay for a private server - a dedicated computer that hosts only their website - but this can be expensive. A cheaper option is a virtual private server (VPS) - a machine that can host hundreds of websites, but mimics the functionality of a private server. The company said it was performing a \"clean-up\" operation on its VPS systems when a coding error in its software \"effectively deleted\" customer websites. Since the maintenance mistake was made on a virtual private server it was able to wipe out many websites in one go." } ], "id": "175_0", "question": "What went wrong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Since the downing of the Russian jet by Turkish forces in November, relations between Turkey and Russia have been in a pattern of controlled tension. The war of words has been interesting to watch. On Tuesday, came another round. Turkey accused Russia of an attack on a hospital in Idlib - something Moscow denied. In retaliation, Moscow called on Ankara to withdraw troops from northern Iraq immediately. Later in the day though, a departure from the months-long, tough rhetoric came surprisingly from Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Erdogan said he was concerned at how relations had been sacrificed over what he called \"a pilot error\", referring to the downing of the jet which Turkey claims had violated its air space. He also said he wanted to improve ties with Russia but that he did not understand what kind of \"first step\" Moscow was expecting. Russia's President Vladimir Putin was clear about that: Moscow expects a formal and public apology from Turkey and also compensation for the jet incident. Not something that Ankara seems likely to do. \"Turkey wants to take a step, but does not want to give the impression that this would indeed be a step back,\" says diplomacy expert Semih Idiz. \"There is no international pressure on Turkey to apologise. I don't think it is going to happen.\" The downing of the Russian jet changed Turkey's involvement in the Syrian conflict considerably. As Russia maintained a de facto no-fly zone in northern Syria by the Turkish border, Turkey lost its ability to give air support to Syrian rebels or protect its borders from Islamic State (IS) militants' shelling. \"If Erdogan could rewind one foreign policy move, that would be the downing of the Russian plane. He regrets it so much,\" says Soner Cagaptay from US-based think tank Washington Institute. \"But given Mr Erdogan's personality, I think an apology is highly unlikely. It would be the first time Erdogan would have admitted to a foreign policy failure.\" Many also think a public apology could be seen as demeaning by the nationalists whose support Mr Erdogan needs in order to be able to change the system in Turkey from parliamentary to presidential, giving him significantly greater executive powers. \"Neither Mr Erdogan nor the ruling party can take that risk and pay that political price. No apology can come before the whole debate on regime change is over,\" says academic Ahmet Kasim Han. Although the tension between the two countries could be unsustainable in the long run, no one actually thinks that this could evolve into an all-out war. However, many expect a proxy escalation. On 13 May, a Turkish Cobra helicopter was shot down by the Kurdish militia group PKK over south-eastern Turkey, killing two pilots. A Russian-made man-portable air defence system (Manpads) was used in the attack. On Monday, President Erdogan accused Russia of supplying weapons to the PKK. Moscow asked the Turkish government to provide evidence. It is not clear whether Russia handed weaponry to the PKK or whether the PKK bought the missile on the black market in Syria or Iraq. But because of the historical ties between the PKK and Moscow, the general assumption in Turkey is that the PKK is being used by Russia as a proxy in the recent escalation. \"Russia might provide weapons to the PKK, they are already giving weapons to the PYD (Kurdish Democratic Union Party), they have promised recognition to Rojava (Kurdish entity in northern Syria), Russians are escalating against Turkey through the use of proxy issues. I think that's going to be the long-term vision moving forward,\" says Soner Cagaptay. This, however, presents many risks for Turkey. A Russian MP recently warned that Moscow would arm the PKK with Manpads if Washington and its allies allowed such weapons to reach Syrian opposition groups. Two weeks after this, the Turkish helicopter was shot down. The PKK having the ability to use Manpads against Turkish forces poses a serious threat, says defence analyst Can Kasapoglu. \"We do not know how many Manpads the PKK currently has. That would be classified information of the Turkish intelligence. So we can't speculate on how big a threat this is.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4177, "answer_start": 2412, "text": "Although the tension between the two countries could be unsustainable in the long run, no one actually thinks that this could evolve into an all-out war. However, many expect a proxy escalation. On 13 May, a Turkish Cobra helicopter was shot down by the Kurdish militia group PKK over south-eastern Turkey, killing two pilots. A Russian-made man-portable air defence system (Manpads) was used in the attack. On Monday, President Erdogan accused Russia of supplying weapons to the PKK. Moscow asked the Turkish government to provide evidence. It is not clear whether Russia handed weaponry to the PKK or whether the PKK bought the missile on the black market in Syria or Iraq. But because of the historical ties between the PKK and Moscow, the general assumption in Turkey is that the PKK is being used by Russia as a proxy in the recent escalation. \"Russia might provide weapons to the PKK, they are already giving weapons to the PYD (Kurdish Democratic Union Party), they have promised recognition to Rojava (Kurdish entity in northern Syria), Russians are escalating against Turkey through the use of proxy issues. I think that's going to be the long-term vision moving forward,\" says Soner Cagaptay. This, however, presents many risks for Turkey. A Russian MP recently warned that Moscow would arm the PKK with Manpads if Washington and its allies allowed such weapons to reach Syrian opposition groups. Two weeks after this, the Turkish helicopter was shot down. The PKK having the ability to use Manpads against Turkish forces poses a serious threat, says defence analyst Can Kasapoglu. \"We do not know how many Manpads the PKK currently has. That would be classified information of the Turkish intelligence. So we can't speculate on how big a threat this is.\"" } ], "id": "176_0", "question": "Proxy war in prospect?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Ukraine's rival presidential candidates have held a long-awaited head-to-head televised debate at Kiev's giant Olympic stadium. Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky and incumbent president Petro Poroshenko shook hands before launching scathing attacks on one another. Mr Zelensky is the clear favourite for Sunday's second-round vote, polls say. But Mr Poroshenko argues that he is a political novice unfit for such a demanding job. Mr Zelensky has relied on a slick social media campaign to tap into the frustration of many younger Ukrainians with establishment politicians, cronyism and corruption. The debate in the capital's 70,000-seat stadium - where Mr Poroshenko's supporters appeared to outnumber Mr Zelensky's - was the first and only direct clash between the two rivals in the campaign. The stadium had been divided into two halves for the debate, with a stage for each candidate to speak from at each end of the pitch - but Mr Poroshenko and Mr Zelensky ended up speaking on the same stage. \"I am not a politician,\" said Mr Zelensky, who spoke first. \"I am just a simple person who has come to break down this system.\" Mr Poroshenko responded by accusing his rival of avoiding active-duty military service and said he would not be able to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. \"We only have a beautiful and bright sweet wrapper in which everyone can find what he is looking for,\" he said. By Jonah Fisher, BBC News, Kiev Two days before the final round of the election Mr Zelensky, a comedian, exchanged views with his opponent President Poroshenko for the first time. Despite having no political experience Mr Zelensky is the favourite to win. The polls suggest he is on track to get more than twice as many votes on Sunday. So anything bar a complete humiliation in this debate was really a victory for the comedian. In the event, this head to head encounter - played out on football pitch - was probably a score draw. Both men flung insults at the other - with Mr Zelensky saying his own candidacy was the direct result of the president's mistakes and broken promises. Mr Poroshenko in turn accused the comedian of complete incompetence and said he had often made jokes at Ukraine's expense. The debate was agreed more than a week ago, but they disagreed over the date for it. On 14 April Mr Poroshenko turned up at the stadium and used Mr Zelensky's absence as an opportunity to answer journalists' questions and attack the comedian. Earlier, Mr Zelensky had set a surprise condition for holding such a debate: they must both undergo blood tests to detect any drugs or alcohol. Both were then photographed separately giving blood samples. Mr Zelensky is a dollar millionaire, thanks to his popular comedy series and other acting roles, while Mr Poroshenko is a billionaire who got rich through confectionery and TV businesses. Mr Zelensky's links to billionaire oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky - a leading opponent of Mr Poroshenko - have led some to question the comedian's credibility as a true \"outsider\" candidate. Mr Poroshenko took power in a 2014 election following an uprising that overthrew the previous pro-Russian government. His supporters credit him with bolstering the army, making Ukraine's Orthodox Church independent of Russia and securing visa-free travel to Europe. However concerns over corruption remain.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1399, "answer_start": 994, "text": "\"I am not a politician,\" said Mr Zelensky, who spoke first. \"I am just a simple person who has come to break down this system.\" Mr Poroshenko responded by accusing his rival of avoiding active-duty military service and said he would not be able to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. \"We only have a beautiful and bright sweet wrapper in which everyone can find what he is looking for,\" he said." } ], "id": "177_0", "question": "What did they say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2653, "answer_start": 2206, "text": "The debate was agreed more than a week ago, but they disagreed over the date for it. On 14 April Mr Poroshenko turned up at the stadium and used Mr Zelensky's absence as an opportunity to answer journalists' questions and attack the comedian. Earlier, Mr Zelensky had set a surprise condition for holding such a debate: they must both undergo blood tests to detect any drugs or alcohol. Both were then photographed separately giving blood samples." } ], "id": "177_1", "question": "How did we get here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3333, "answer_start": 2654, "text": "Mr Zelensky is a dollar millionaire, thanks to his popular comedy series and other acting roles, while Mr Poroshenko is a billionaire who got rich through confectionery and TV businesses. Mr Zelensky's links to billionaire oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky - a leading opponent of Mr Poroshenko - have led some to question the comedian's credibility as a true \"outsider\" candidate. Mr Poroshenko took power in a 2014 election following an uprising that overthrew the previous pro-Russian government. His supporters credit him with bolstering the army, making Ukraine's Orthodox Church independent of Russia and securing visa-free travel to Europe. However concerns over corruption remain." } ], "id": "177_2", "question": "Who are the candidates?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been sentenced to nine months in prison after being found guilty of \"contempt of court\". What does that mean? Contempt of court laws exist to ensure people get fair trials. The idea is that juries must not be influenced by anything but the evidence they hear in court. The rules apply to everyone from journalists to people posting comments on social media, and even jurors. If someone interferes with a trial, the defendants can walk free and a new trial might have to be held. The maximum sentence for contempt of court is two years in prison, but it can also be punished with an unlimited fine. The law is set out in the 1981 Contempt of Court Act. Contempt includes publishing anything that creates a substantial risk of seriously prejudicing \"active\" criminal proceedings. Proceedings become \"active\" when a suspect is arrested. Someone could also be in contempt by actions including taking photographs or film, recording what is said in court or talking to a jury member about a case. Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, committed contempt of court by broadcasting footage of defendants accused of sexual exploitation. The hour-long broadcast, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018, was seen by thousands of people. Lawyers for the Attorney General said reporting restrictions had been put in place. These postponed the publication of any details of the case until the end of a series of linked trials, involving 29 defendants. This was to stop the juries in those cases being influenced. They also said the manner in which Robinson filmed the defendants at court was a problem. The aggressive confrontation could have influenced those on bail not to co-operate with the trial. Judge Dame Victoria Sharp said when explaining the decision, that Mr Robinson encouraged \"vigilante action\" in his Facebook Live. She also said that the video could have \"seriously impeded\" justice over a sexual grooming gang's trial. Robinson was originally jailed for 13 months for the offence in May 2018. But the Court of Appeal said his case hadn't been handled fairly. Then, the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox - the government's top legal adviser - announced that new proceedings could be brought against him. In 2011, the Sun and the Daily Mail were found guilty of contempt for pictures they published during a murder trial. They had shown the defendant holding a gun, which risked prejudicing the jury. The following year, the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror were found guilty of contempt, following serial killer Levi Bellfield's conviction for the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler. Their articles were part of an \"avalanche\" of bad character information about Bellfield, the hearing was told. The Daily Mirror article detailed his violent treatment and sexual abuse of former partners, including Jo Collings. However, the jury still had to consider its verdict on an attempted abduction charge relating to another victim. The coverage was considered prejudicial and the jury had to be discharged, denying the victim and her family the chance of justice. Bellfield was already in jail for the murders of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. Yes, discussions about court cases still need to stay inside the jury room. In 2011, in the first case of its kind, juror Joanne Fraill was punished for contacting defendant Jamie Sewart via Facebook - causing a PS6m drugs trial to collapse. Fraill was jailed for eight months for contempt for both contacting Sewart and searching online about the case. Sewart had already been cleared but other defendants were still on trial, so proceedings were compromised. Social media users have been warned about commenting on court proceedings, and breaching restrictions put in place. Actress Tina Malone, for example, was given a suspended prison sentence for breaching an injunction protecting the identity of Jon Venables - one of James Bulger's killers. She shared a Facebook message which was said to include an image and Venables' new name. Intimidation: Juries must be able to give verdicts without being subject to abuse or intimidation. Carrying out research: In 2012, juror and university lecturer Theodora Dallas was jailed for six months for carrying out her own research about defendant Barry Medlock, who was on trial for causing grievous bodily harm. Taking or posting photos: In 2016, Damian Parker-Stokes was jailed for 15 months for taking photographs in court as his friend Ryan Sheppard was being jailed for murder. Parker-Stokes posted one image on Sheppard's Facebook page with the words: \"Respect g at least u had the balls to admit it ...\" The then Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, said people who used Facebook to \"mock the administration of justice\" and \"cause considerable concern\" to a victim's family, \"must be deterred by the most severe sentences\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2271, "answer_start": 1047, "text": "Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, committed contempt of court by broadcasting footage of defendants accused of sexual exploitation. The hour-long broadcast, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018, was seen by thousands of people. Lawyers for the Attorney General said reporting restrictions had been put in place. These postponed the publication of any details of the case until the end of a series of linked trials, involving 29 defendants. This was to stop the juries in those cases being influenced. They also said the manner in which Robinson filmed the defendants at court was a problem. The aggressive confrontation could have influenced those on bail not to co-operate with the trial. Judge Dame Victoria Sharp said when explaining the decision, that Mr Robinson encouraged \"vigilante action\" in his Facebook Live. She also said that the video could have \"seriously impeded\" justice over a sexual grooming gang's trial. Robinson was originally jailed for 13 months for the offence in May 2018. But the Court of Appeal said his case hadn't been handled fairly. Then, the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox - the government's top legal adviser - announced that new proceedings could be brought against him." } ], "id": "178_0", "question": "Why was Tommy Robinson found guilty of contempt?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3250, "answer_start": 2272, "text": "In 2011, the Sun and the Daily Mail were found guilty of contempt for pictures they published during a murder trial. They had shown the defendant holding a gun, which risked prejudicing the jury. The following year, the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror were found guilty of contempt, following serial killer Levi Bellfield's conviction for the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler. Their articles were part of an \"avalanche\" of bad character information about Bellfield, the hearing was told. The Daily Mirror article detailed his violent treatment and sexual abuse of former partners, including Jo Collings. However, the jury still had to consider its verdict on an attempted abduction charge relating to another victim. The coverage was considered prejudicial and the jury had to be discharged, denying the victim and her family the chance of justice. Bellfield was already in jail for the murders of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy." } ], "id": "178_1", "question": "What other famous cases have there been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4089, "answer_start": 3251, "text": "Yes, discussions about court cases still need to stay inside the jury room. In 2011, in the first case of its kind, juror Joanne Fraill was punished for contacting defendant Jamie Sewart via Facebook - causing a PS6m drugs trial to collapse. Fraill was jailed for eight months for contempt for both contacting Sewart and searching online about the case. Sewart had already been cleared but other defendants were still on trial, so proceedings were compromised. Social media users have been warned about commenting on court proceedings, and breaching restrictions put in place. Actress Tina Malone, for example, was given a suspended prison sentence for breaching an injunction protecting the identity of Jon Venables - one of James Bulger's killers. She shared a Facebook message which was said to include an image and Venables' new name." } ], "id": "178_2", "question": "Does it apply on social media?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4921, "answer_start": 4090, "text": "Intimidation: Juries must be able to give verdicts without being subject to abuse or intimidation. Carrying out research: In 2012, juror and university lecturer Theodora Dallas was jailed for six months for carrying out her own research about defendant Barry Medlock, who was on trial for causing grievous bodily harm. Taking or posting photos: In 2016, Damian Parker-Stokes was jailed for 15 months for taking photographs in court as his friend Ryan Sheppard was being jailed for murder. Parker-Stokes posted one image on Sheppard's Facebook page with the words: \"Respect g at least u had the balls to admit it ...\" The then Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, said people who used Facebook to \"mock the administration of justice\" and \"cause considerable concern\" to a victim's family, \"must be deterred by the most severe sentences\"." } ], "id": "178_3", "question": "What else counts as contempt of court?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The government is paying to promote Theresa May's Brexit deal on Google - but is facing a battle with opponents of the deal using very similar headlines. The Cabinet Office says it will reveal how much is being spent to push the government's message to the top of the rankings when people search \"what is the Brexit deal?\". However, we may not find out until after MPs vote on the deal next month. And the government ad keeps being knocked off the top spot by a campaign group called \"Britain's Future\", which says May's deal betrays Brexit. The government page says \"if we reject this deal, we will go back to square one\". The two competing sites appear to have a similar look and feel when they appear in Google search results. Google said this did not break the terms of conditions of its site - which routinely allocates the top search spot based on an ad auction. Theresa May is going all out to sell her deal to the public before MPs - a majority of whom are thought to be against it - vote on 11 December. The Cabinet Office does publish how much it spends on marketing government policies, for example it spent PS44,219 on Facebook's services in September. But we are unlikely to know how much it has spent on promoting Theresa May's deal on Google until after MPs have voted on it. A government spokesperson said: \"Communicating government policy effectively to the public is a core function of the Civil Service. \"We have reached a deal that is good for the UK, good for its citizens, and good for business and we will be communicating that to the country. Any costs associated with this will be published in the usual way.\" First, try yourself by clicking this link. Most people see a promoted link at the top of the results, clearly labelled \"ad\". This means somebody is paying for this site to be at the top of your results. However, the advert you see will vary depending on the time of day and where you are in the world. You might see this advert, for a page called \"Brexit Deal Explained\", paid for by the government. It links to a website called \"Brexit Deal Explained\" which sets out the government's case for the EU withdrawal agreement - and warns about the dangers of a no-deal Brexit. The website has video explainers about the deal as well as linking to key documents. It also contains some supportive quotes (although this one falls rather short of a ringing endorsement). The government is also paying to promote the deal with videos on social media. Some people get a different result when they Google the same phrase. This sponsored result appears very similar but if you look closely you can see it says the deal \"betrays Brexit\". This article has been published by an organisation called \"Britain's Future\" which says it is \"dedicated to making a positive, optimistic case for Brexit\". On the organisation's homepage is a series of articles criticising May's deal from a pro-Brexit perspective, arguing the deal does not deliver on the referendum result. Britain's Future has also put up several Facebook videos in recent days criticising May's deal. The site is run by Tim Dawson, a journalist who has written for right-leaning publications like the Telegraph and Spectator. Tim Dawson, who described himself to the BBC as a \"committed Brexiteer\" said he had spent about PS2,000 on his campaign. \"I'm raising small donations from friends and fellow Brexiteers\", said Mr Dawson, who added that he was not prepared to reveal the identity of those who had given money. The homepage looks rather similar to the government's one but says \"the government has surrendered to the EU\". The page has a video explainer giving the opposite perspective on May's deal, giving reasons why it thinks the agreement is bad for the UK. When BBC journalists in other countries searched for the phrase they got different results, showing the two adverts above are targeted at Google users based in the UK. Here is what comes up when you search for the phrase in Brussels. One sponsored result is for an organisation called KGH Customs, which says it \"can provide you with the people, insights and services to streamline and add value to your customs procedures\". Another is for the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a think tank based in Canada. While the UK results are aimed at the general public, the Brussels adverts seem to be aimed at policy insiders. Searching the same phrase in France and Germany, on the other hand, brings up an advert for Barclays Investment Bank. Google says these are not targeted adverts where companies choose to push messages to particular audiences such as an age group or people living in a certain area of the country. Targeted advertising, particularly on Facebook, has been a major - and controversial - feature of recent election campaigns in the UK and abroad. Who spent what on Facebook during 2017 election campaign? Google says the results appear differently for different people because of the \"keyword bidding system\". Advertisers can choose to push messages based on searches for particular keywords such as \"what is the Brexit deal\". According to Google, when a customer searches for a term matching the keyword, \"your ad can enter an auction to determine if it will show... Since the auction process is repeated for every search on Google, each auction can have potentially different results depending on the competition at that moment.\" This means two people sitting next to each other may see a different advert while searching the same thing despite the ads not being \"targeted\" as such - Google does not allow personalised advertising for political groups and other \"prohibited categories\". One peculiar outcome of this is that some Google users may see the two similar-looking adverts on top of each other - one supporting May's deal and one opposing it.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1634, "answer_start": 1013, "text": "The Cabinet Office does publish how much it spends on marketing government policies, for example it spent PS44,219 on Facebook's services in September. But we are unlikely to know how much it has spent on promoting Theresa May's deal on Google until after MPs have voted on it. A government spokesperson said: \"Communicating government policy effectively to the public is a core function of the Civil Service. \"We have reached a deal that is good for the UK, good for its citizens, and good for business and we will be communicating that to the country. Any costs associated with this will be published in the usual way.\"" } ], "id": "179_0", "question": "How much is it costing the government?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2476, "answer_start": 1635, "text": "First, try yourself by clicking this link. Most people see a promoted link at the top of the results, clearly labelled \"ad\". This means somebody is paying for this site to be at the top of your results. However, the advert you see will vary depending on the time of day and where you are in the world. You might see this advert, for a page called \"Brexit Deal Explained\", paid for by the government. It links to a website called \"Brexit Deal Explained\" which sets out the government's case for the EU withdrawal agreement - and warns about the dangers of a no-deal Brexit. The website has video explainers about the deal as well as linking to key documents. It also contains some supportive quotes (although this one falls rather short of a ringing endorsement). The government is also paying to promote the deal with videos on social media." } ], "id": "179_1", "question": "What do you see when you search for Brexit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4499, "answer_start": 3748, "text": "When BBC journalists in other countries searched for the phrase they got different results, showing the two adverts above are targeted at Google users based in the UK. Here is what comes up when you search for the phrase in Brussels. One sponsored result is for an organisation called KGH Customs, which says it \"can provide you with the people, insights and services to streamline and add value to your customs procedures\". Another is for the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a think tank based in Canada. While the UK results are aimed at the general public, the Brussels adverts seem to be aimed at policy insiders. Searching the same phrase in France and Germany, on the other hand, brings up an advert for Barclays Investment Bank." } ], "id": "179_2", "question": "What about abroad?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5831, "answer_start": 4500, "text": "Google says these are not targeted adverts where companies choose to push messages to particular audiences such as an age group or people living in a certain area of the country. Targeted advertising, particularly on Facebook, has been a major - and controversial - feature of recent election campaigns in the UK and abroad. Who spent what on Facebook during 2017 election campaign? Google says the results appear differently for different people because of the \"keyword bidding system\". Advertisers can choose to push messages based on searches for particular keywords such as \"what is the Brexit deal\". According to Google, when a customer searches for a term matching the keyword, \"your ad can enter an auction to determine if it will show... Since the auction process is repeated for every search on Google, each auction can have potentially different results depending on the competition at that moment.\" This means two people sitting next to each other may see a different advert while searching the same thing despite the ads not being \"targeted\" as such - Google does not allow personalised advertising for political groups and other \"prohibited categories\". One peculiar outcome of this is that some Google users may see the two similar-looking adverts on top of each other - one supporting May's deal and one opposing it." } ], "id": "179_3", "question": "Why do different people get different results?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nearly 500 prisoners have been freed in the US state of Oklahoma in what is said to be the largest such release in US history. The 462 inmates - jailed for low-level, non-violent crimes - had their sentences commuted. Oklahoma residents voted in 2016 to reduce simple drug possession and minor property crimes to misdemeanours. The state's incarceration rate is one of the highest in the US, which leads the world in number of jailed citizens. Earlier this year, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a measure with bipartisan support to make it easier to review the sentences of inmates whose crimes would be classified as lesser offenses if charged today. Scenes from the mass release on Monday showed people embracing amid tearful reunions outside the prisons. Brody Whisenhunt - whose mother Robin Whisenhunt was among those released - sobbed as he told NBC News: \"I miss my mom more than anything, and just to have her back is great.\" Like many of those released, Whisenhunt had been jailed for simple drug possession. Before 2016, simple drug possession and minor property crimes were classified as felonies in Oklahoma. Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, told about 70 women freed at one prison that it was \"the first day of the rest of your life.\" Sentences were commuted on Friday for a total of 527 inmates. On average, those who have had their sentences commuted were incarcerated for three years, with 25% of them women. Oklahoma has also taken measures to help the freed inmates with re-entry into society, including ensuring they are released with a state-issued driver's licence or identification card. The state's Department of Corrections also held transition fairs to connect inmates with social services they might need upon release. There have been bipartisan efforts across the US to send fewer citizens to prison for non-violent, low-level offences. Last year, the US Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill that included reducing mandatory penalties for some drug-related crimes.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1244, "answer_start": 646, "text": "Scenes from the mass release on Monday showed people embracing amid tearful reunions outside the prisons. Brody Whisenhunt - whose mother Robin Whisenhunt was among those released - sobbed as he told NBC News: \"I miss my mom more than anything, and just to have her back is great.\" Like many of those released, Whisenhunt had been jailed for simple drug possession. Before 2016, simple drug possession and minor property crimes were classified as felonies in Oklahoma. Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, told about 70 women freed at one prison that it was \"the first day of the rest of your life.\"" } ], "id": "180_0", "question": "How did families react?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2005, "answer_start": 1245, "text": "Sentences were commuted on Friday for a total of 527 inmates. On average, those who have had their sentences commuted were incarcerated for three years, with 25% of them women. Oklahoma has also taken measures to help the freed inmates with re-entry into society, including ensuring they are released with a state-issued driver's licence or identification card. The state's Department of Corrections also held transition fairs to connect inmates with social services they might need upon release. There have been bipartisan efforts across the US to send fewer citizens to prison for non-violent, low-level offences. Last year, the US Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill that included reducing mandatory penalties for some drug-related crimes." } ], "id": "180_1", "question": "How many sentences were commuted?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Volunteers have begun burying victims of Indonesia's deadly earthquake and tsunami in a mass grave. Friday's disaster devastated swathes of the eastern Sulawesi island and has left at least 844 people dead. Some remote areas have yet to be contacted, and there are fears that the death toll could rise further. A lack of heavy lifting equipment is hampering rescuers' attempts to reach people who remain alive in the ruins of collapsed buildings. Dozens of people are feared to be underneath the rubble of one hotel alone, the Roa-Roa in the devastated resort of Palu. In Sigi, south of Palu, the bodies of 34 children were found at a church which was engulfed in mud and debris, Indonesia Red Cross spokeswoman Aulia Arriani was quoted as saying by Reuters. She said the children were on a \"Bible camp\". Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency confirmed to the BBC that none of the country's tsunami detector buoys were working before Sulawesi was hit. Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the 21 floating detection units - which are connected to deep sea sensors - had been damaged by vandals or stolen. A tsunami warning was still sent out - but it appears to have drastically underestimated the scale of the waves that would follow. Many people in Palu did not receive alerts because of power cuts caused by the tremor. There were also no sirens located along the coast. \"Communication is limited, heavy machinery is limited... it's not enough for the numbers of buildings that collapsed,\" said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Yenni Suryani, of Catholic Relief Services, said aid agencies were struggling to get staff into affected areas as the main airport at Palu was damaged, landslides had cut road links and \"power is out almost everywhere\". Some survivors have been looting shops for food, water and fuel, telling reporters they have run out of supplies. Reuters news agency reports that police are escorting aid convoys to prevent supplies being stolen. President Joko Widodo visited the region, urging a \"day and night\" effort to rescue survivors. Government officials say some 1,200 inmates escaped from three prisons in the region as the quake struck. In the hills above Palu, volunteers filling a mass grave were instructed to prepare for a total of 1,300 victims to arrive. Trucks arrived with bodies wrapped in orange, yellow and black body bags. They were dragged into the grave and motorised diggers poured earth on top. But many people are still looking for missing loved ones. Adi told AFP he was hugging his wife by the beach in Palu when the tsunami struck, and has not seen her since. \"When the wave came, I lost her,\" he said. \"I was carried about 50 metres. I couldn't hold anything.\" By Rebecca Henschke, BBC News, Palu Lying on a stretcher in the dark outside the Mamboro health clinic in Palu is a five-year-old girl with a broken leg. She was found alone, Doctor Sasono tells me. \"We don't know where her family is and she doesn't remember where they live.\" His clinic has no power and is running out of medical supplies. A few metres from her stretcher bed are rows of bodies in bags. The smell of decomposition fills the air. Dr Sasono says they will be buried in mass graves to stop the spread of diseases: \"They are starting to smell. We want to wait for relatives to pick them up, but we can't wait any longer.\" Rows of rubble lie all along the shoreline where vibrant fishing villages once stood. People's possessions lie smashed together, with cars and boats tossed around by the massive waves. Amid the rubble are tents where families are sleeping out in the open. The 7.5-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) just off Sulawesi at 18:03 (10:03 GMT) on Friday, setting off a tsunami. The earthquake was powerful but shallow and with more lateral than vertical movement, not typically the kind of tremor that sets off tsunamis. A warning system was put in place across the whole Pacific region after the 2004 disaster, which killed nearly a quarter of a million people. Videos show people screaming as waves 6m (20ft) high power over the beach - where a festival was being set-up - sweeping up everything in their path. Indonesia lies on the Pacific \"Ring of Fire\" where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Have you been affected by the earthquake? If it is safe to do so, share your experience by emailing [email protected] Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Or Upload your pictures/video here - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2169, "answer_start": 1389, "text": "\"Communication is limited, heavy machinery is limited... it's not enough for the numbers of buildings that collapsed,\" said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Yenni Suryani, of Catholic Relief Services, said aid agencies were struggling to get staff into affected areas as the main airport at Palu was damaged, landslides had cut road links and \"power is out almost everywhere\". Some survivors have been looting shops for food, water and fuel, telling reporters they have run out of supplies. Reuters news agency reports that police are escorting aid convoys to prevent supplies being stolen. President Joko Widodo visited the region, urging a \"day and night\" effort to rescue survivors. Government officials say some 1,200 inmates escaped from three prisons in the region as the quake struck." } ], "id": "181_0", "question": "What's the current situation on the ground?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4319, "answer_start": 3607, "text": "The 7.5-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) just off Sulawesi at 18:03 (10:03 GMT) on Friday, setting off a tsunami. The earthquake was powerful but shallow and with more lateral than vertical movement, not typically the kind of tremor that sets off tsunamis. A warning system was put in place across the whole Pacific region after the 2004 disaster, which killed nearly a quarter of a million people. Videos show people screaming as waves 6m (20ft) high power over the beach - where a festival was being set-up - sweeping up everything in their path. Indonesia lies on the Pacific \"Ring of Fire\" where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur." } ], "id": "181_1", "question": "Why was the tsunami so destructive?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Italian former journalist David-Maria Sassoli has been selected as the new president of the European Parliament. Mr Sassoli, 63, received the support of 345 out of a total of 667 MEPs in the second round of voting in Strasbourg. The centre-left politician beat three other candidates and will assume the role of assembly speaker immediately. The vote comes a day after EU leaders agreed nominations for the bloc's top jobs, with a woman for the first time proposed as European Commission chief. In a speech following Wednesday's result, Mr Sassoli spoke of an \"imperfect\" union in need of reform, calling for the EU to return to the spirit of its founding fathers, who swapped warfare and nationalism for peace and equality. \"We need to strengthen our capacity to play a leading role in democracy,\" he said, focusing particularly on the need for reform to the EU's system for asylum seekers. \"You can't continue to kick this down the road. We don't want citizens asking 'where's Europe' every time an emergency happens.\" He then described Brexit as \"painful\", adding: \"The European Parliament will guarantee the independence of European citizens - only they are able to determine their history.\" Mr Sassoli replaces another Italian, ex-army officer Antonio Tajani. The night before, marathon talks over who will take over the EU's top jobs came to a close with the surprise choice of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Jean-Claude Juncker. Her nomination has to be approved by a majority of MEPs in a vote to be held in Strasbourg on 15 July. Mrs von der Leyen was due to visit MEPs on Wednesday to discuss her nomination. If her candidacy is rejected, national leaders will have a month to nominate a replacement. On the face of it, it's a historic double first for Europe, the nomination of two women, Ursula von der Leyen and Christine Lagarde, to lead the European Commission and the European Central Bank respectively. For some media, however, it's very much a return to business as usual after turbulent times. It amounts to a successful operation by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to \"solder the Franco-German tandem back together again\", according to right-leaning French daily Le Figaro. The choice of a German and Frenchwoman for the EU's top jobs \"shows a rebalancing in favour of the big countries, especially the Franco-German tandem, and confirms that Europe remains a Carolingian affair\", writes the left-leaning French daily Liberation, referring to the medieval empire which straddled what are now Germany and France. Italy's left-leaning daily Il Messagero detects a level of cynicism worthy of the historical film The Leopard. In that film, a noble family grapples with revolutionary times by adopting the principle that \"for things to remain the same, everything must change\". \"Behind the new feminine face of the community leadership,\" the paper writes, \"is a Leopard-style operation in the sense that the change is a return to the Franco-German monopoly uber alles\", Il Messagero deliberately uses the German term for \"above all else\", with its Nazi-era connotations. Christine Lagarde, the French current head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been nominated as the first woman to lead the European Central Bank (ECB). Belgian liberal Prime Minister Charles Michel has been chosen to replace European Council President Donald Tusk. Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell is nominated as EU foreign policy chief. A Catalan economist, he held the post of European Parliament president from 2004-2007. On Wednesday, members of the European Parliament elected in May voted in a secret ballot for their choice of one of four candidates. Ahead of the vote, contenders for the position were each given a few minutes to pitch their ideas to fellow MEPs in the Strasbourg assembly: - David-Maria Sassoli: \"I am applying because I believe that Europe will be stronger only with a European Parliament capable of playing a more important role.\" - Ska Keller, European Green Party (German): \"The European Union is more important than ever. You have answered the hateful rhetoric of the European right... with a mandate to strengthen the European Union.\" - Jan Zahradil, Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (Czech): \"Among the four candidates I am the only one who comes from Central/Eastern Europe, from outside the eurozone, from a small/medium-sized country.\" - Sira Rego, European United Left-Nordic Green Left (Spanish): \"Time is running out for the future of our planet. Neoliberal solutions and carbon trading are not going to solve this climate crisis.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1264, "answer_start": 495, "text": "In a speech following Wednesday's result, Mr Sassoli spoke of an \"imperfect\" union in need of reform, calling for the EU to return to the spirit of its founding fathers, who swapped warfare and nationalism for peace and equality. \"We need to strengthen our capacity to play a leading role in democracy,\" he said, focusing particularly on the need for reform to the EU's system for asylum seekers. \"You can't continue to kick this down the road. We don't want citizens asking 'where's Europe' every time an emergency happens.\" He then described Brexit as \"painful\", adding: \"The European Parliament will guarantee the independence of European citizens - only they are able to determine their history.\" Mr Sassoli replaces another Italian, ex-army officer Antonio Tajani." } ], "id": "182_0", "question": "What is Sassoli's vision for Europe?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1735, "answer_start": 1265, "text": "The night before, marathon talks over who will take over the EU's top jobs came to a close with the surprise choice of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Jean-Claude Juncker. Her nomination has to be approved by a majority of MEPs in a vote to be held in Strasbourg on 15 July. Mrs von der Leyen was due to visit MEPs on Wednesday to discuss her nomination. If her candidacy is rejected, national leaders will have a month to nominate a replacement." } ], "id": "182_1", "question": "Who has been picked for top EU job?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4656, "answer_start": 3593, "text": "On Wednesday, members of the European Parliament elected in May voted in a secret ballot for their choice of one of four candidates. Ahead of the vote, contenders for the position were each given a few minutes to pitch their ideas to fellow MEPs in the Strasbourg assembly: - David-Maria Sassoli: \"I am applying because I believe that Europe will be stronger only with a European Parliament capable of playing a more important role.\" - Ska Keller, European Green Party (German): \"The European Union is more important than ever. You have answered the hateful rhetoric of the European right... with a mandate to strengthen the European Union.\" - Jan Zahradil, Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (Czech): \"Among the four candidates I am the only one who comes from Central/Eastern Europe, from outside the eurozone, from a small/medium-sized country.\" - Sira Rego, European United Left-Nordic Green Left (Spanish): \"Time is running out for the future of our planet. Neoliberal solutions and carbon trading are not going to solve this climate crisis.\"" } ], "id": "182_2", "question": "Who were the other contenders for parliament presidency?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Ten billion dollars - or PS7.7bn - sounds like a serious amount of money. It's how much the world's richest man Jeff Bezos has said he'll spend to fight climate change. But what do you even spend $10bn on? And is it anywhere near enough? According to Professor Elizabeth Robinson from the University of Reading, some of the solutions are known about but \"are still not happening\". Elizabeth, an expert in environmental economics, suggests the money could be spent on persuading governments to stop funding fossil fuels - which produce carbon dioxide and warm the planet. \"We need to start investing in clean energy instead like renewable. If we do that, we're a lot of the way there.\" The UK government announced a deal last year with the wind industry to ensure 30% of electricity comes from offshore wind by 2030. Seamus Garvey, an energy storage expert at the University of Nottingham, agrees that renewable energy is key. He says the technology is available but it needs to be \"made cheaper\" for people to use. \"It's about flexibility in electricity.\" Seamus suggests the need to mix wind and solar energy so it works all year long. \"Wind is very seasonal and blows strongly in the winter - as Storm Dennis has shown us. Solar is also seasonal and the sun shines mostly in the summer. So we need to balance it out.\" There's lots of talk around the impact of cars and planes on the environment, so Elizabeth suggests money needs to be spent upgrading transport systems. \"We need to start investing in affordable low-cost public transport so people choose to move out of their cars and into trains.\" She adds that subsidising long-distance public transport to make it \"affordable and reliable\" means people may \"choose to not fly\". \"We need alternatives - people living in mainland Europe can often take the train to wherever they want to go.\" Some people choose to do something called carbon offsetting - paying extra to contribute to environmental projects that reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Seamus calls this \"a good thing in principle, but not enough in practice\". \"If we were to do proper carbon offsetting, we would be paying a lot of money.\" Elizabeth says that while she doesn't \"begrudge anyone getting on a flight for a holiday or to see family\", the only way to really make a difference is \"to fly less\". Targeting key areas that are good for the environment can help too, Elizabeth says. \"To protect our forests we need to do things like rewilding and planting trees where it makes sense to plant trees.\" And, she believes, agriculture needs to be developed too because it \"contributes a large proportion\" of emissions globally. \"We have to eat - but we need to find ways to do agriculture and forestry better.\" According to Elizabeth, there are \"technological solutions\" for growing crops which can make removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere \"more efficient\". Jeff Bezos is the boss of Amazon - one of the world's biggest companies - and in 2018 its corporate carbon footprint was 44.4 million metric tons. \"Which is a lot, like a small country,\" says Seamus. \"Jeff Bezos can't solve climate problems with $10bn on its own. It could be significant, but it's not enough to even transition the energy in the UK.\" Seamus says the money \"could kickstart\" other companies which are able to help - after the Amazon founder said he would finance work by scientists, activists and other groups. Elizabeth says big companies like Amazon have a \"moral obligation\" to tackle climate change. \"They're making huge profits. So it wouldn't really be that hard.\" In a statement to Radio 1 Newsbeat, Amazon said its \"vision\" was to \"make all Amazon shipments net zero carbon, with 50% of all shipments net zero by 2030\". It added: \"Amazon's sustainability team is using a science-based approach to develop data and strategies to ensure a rigorous approach to our sustainability work. \"We have launched several major and impactful programmes and are working hard to integrate this approach fully across Amazon.\" Lower income countries which aren't as developed usually have higher levels of fossil fuels. Elizabeth says money should be used to help those countries develop and move away from damaging fuels. \"That's where some of that $10bn could have a real impact. Those countries are under pressure to reduce poverty and grow economically, and they're using dirty energy to do that. So finding a way to develop without using those would be helpful.\" And is it just about the money? \"It's about having a commitment as well,\" says Elizabeth. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4028, "answer_start": 2895, "text": "Jeff Bezos is the boss of Amazon - one of the world's biggest companies - and in 2018 its corporate carbon footprint was 44.4 million metric tons. \"Which is a lot, like a small country,\" says Seamus. \"Jeff Bezos can't solve climate problems with $10bn on its own. It could be significant, but it's not enough to even transition the energy in the UK.\" Seamus says the money \"could kickstart\" other companies which are able to help - after the Amazon founder said he would finance work by scientists, activists and other groups. Elizabeth says big companies like Amazon have a \"moral obligation\" to tackle climate change. \"They're making huge profits. So it wouldn't really be that hard.\" In a statement to Radio 1 Newsbeat, Amazon said its \"vision\" was to \"make all Amazon shipments net zero carbon, with 50% of all shipments net zero by 2030\". It added: \"Amazon's sustainability team is using a science-based approach to develop data and strategies to ensure a rigorous approach to our sustainability work. \"We have launched several major and impactful programmes and are working hard to integrate this approach fully across Amazon.\"" } ], "id": "183_0", "question": "But is $10bn enough?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An Australian woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to end their life under new assisted dying laws, a charity says. Kerry Robertson, 61, died at a nursing home in the state of Victoria in July. She was granted permission to use the controversial legislation - which exists only in Victoria but is being considered in other states - after a 26-day approval process. Her family said she was able to have \"the empowered death that she wanted\". Ms Robertson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and it later spread to her bones, lungs, brain and liver. She decided to stop chemotherapy and radiation treatment in March after the side effects and pain became \"intolerable\", her family said. Victoria's legislation, which came into effect in June, allows terminally ill patients who meet certain requirements the right to access lethal drugs. \"We were beside her, David Bowie playing in the background, surrounded by love, with final words spoken, simple and dignified,\" said her daughter, Nicole Robertson, in a statement released by charity Go Gentle Australia. \"To me that is the greatest part: the knowledge that we did everything we could to make her happy in life and comfortable in death.\" The state's law has 68 safeguards and is designed for people who are in severe pain. It requires the person to make three requests to end their life to specially trained doctors. The person must be aged at least 18 and have less than six months to live. The bill was passed in 2017 after more than 100 hours of parliamentary debate that deeply divided state lawmakers. Ms Robertson's family said she had applied to utilise the legislation on the day it came into effect in June. Western Australia and Queensland are considering similar laws. In 1995, Australia's Northern Territory introduced the world's first voluntary euthanasia law, but it was overturned by federal authorities in Canberra eight months later. The federal government does not have the same power over states. Laws allowing terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with a doctor's supervision have been passed in countries including Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2162, "answer_start": 1214, "text": "The state's law has 68 safeguards and is designed for people who are in severe pain. It requires the person to make three requests to end their life to specially trained doctors. The person must be aged at least 18 and have less than six months to live. The bill was passed in 2017 after more than 100 hours of parliamentary debate that deeply divided state lawmakers. Ms Robertson's family said she had applied to utilise the legislation on the day it came into effect in June. Western Australia and Queensland are considering similar laws. In 1995, Australia's Northern Territory introduced the world's first voluntary euthanasia law, but it was overturned by federal authorities in Canberra eight months later. The federal government does not have the same power over states. Laws allowing terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with a doctor's supervision have been passed in countries including Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium." } ], "id": "184_0", "question": "Who is eligible?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A 50-year-old woman infected with Ebola has died in western Uganda, a day after her five-year-old grandson died. They are the first cases reported there since the virus spread over the border from Democratic Republic of Congo, where nearly 1,400 people have died. Three suspected Ebola patients have also run away from an isolation centre in south-western Uganda. The head of a major medical charity has called the latest outbreak of Ebola in central Africa \"truly frightening\". Dr Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, said the epidemic was the worst since that of 2013-16 and has showed \"no sign of stopping\". He said the spread was \"tragic but unfortunately not surprising\". He warned that more cases were expected, and a \"full\" national and international response would be needed to protect lives. On Friday the World Health Organization (WHO) will decide whether the outbreak should now be deemed a global health emergency. The grandmother had lived in DR Congo, where her husband recently died of Ebola. Her daughter had travelled from Uganda, where she lives with her Ugandan husband, to the Congolese town of Beni with her children to help care for him. After the grandfather died they all travelled on Sunday to Uganda's Kasese district, where the five-year-old son and his grandmother then subsequently became sick and later died. The three-year-old son is now confirmed to have Ebola. He, his parents and two of his siblings have been repatriated at their request to DR Congo, Uganda's health ministry says. Twenty-seven people are said to have been in contact with the three confirmed cases in Uganda. They have been restricted to their homes and will be vaccinated against Ebola. The people who fled from a hospital isolation unit had been found to have high temperatures when they crossed the border from DR Congo to the Ugandan district of Kanungu, which is about 150km (93 miles) south of Kasese. Medical workers did not get a chance to take samples of their blood to send for testing before their escape. Analysis by Patricia Oyella, BBC Africa, Kampala This isn't the first time the virus has struck the country. Outbreaks in 2012, 2007 and 2000 have prompted the health ministry to build capacity, says Director of Clinical Services Dr Charles Olaro. Public health information campaigns broadcast to at-risk areas have been key in preventing the spread since the first case of Ebola was reported over the border in DR Congo last August. Mass gatherings, including market days and prayers, have been cancelled. Market days in the town of Kasese attract an estimated 20,000 people at the border area. Uganda's health ministry and the WHO said a rapid response team had been dispatched to identify others at risk. The country has already vaccinated about 4,700 health workers against the disease, according to a joint statement by WHO and Ugandan health officials. Ebola screening centres are in operation along the border with DR Congo as well as other major entry and exit points. Authorities have identified 22 high-risk districts - places that are close to the border and have high levels of movement - and deployed medical monitors to spot and manage any cases they find. A database of experts is on hand to deal with different scenarios, the health ministry says, and Uganda also benefits from the expertise of health workers it deployed to contain previous outbreaks in West Africa. Nearly 1,400 people have died over the last 10 months - around 70% of all those infected. The outbreak is the second-largest in the history of the disease, with a significant spike in new cases in recent weeks. Only once before has an outbreak continued to grow more than eight months after it began - that was the epidemic in West Africa between 2013-16, which killed 11,310 people. Some have predicted it could take up to two more years to bring to an end. The WHO has twice ruled that this Ebola outbreak is not yet a global emergency. I Efforts to contain the spread have been hindered by militia group violence and by suspicion towards foreign medical assistance. Nearly 200 health facilities have been attacked in DR Congo this year, forcing health workers to suspend or delay vaccinations and treatments. In February, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) put its activities on hold in Butembo and Katwa - two eastern cities in the outbreak's epicentre. - Ebola is a virus that initially causes sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat. - It progresses to vomiting, diarrhoea and both internal and external bleeding. - People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola. - Patients tend to die from dehydration and multiple organ failure.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3418, "answer_start": 2035, "text": "Analysis by Patricia Oyella, BBC Africa, Kampala This isn't the first time the virus has struck the country. Outbreaks in 2012, 2007 and 2000 have prompted the health ministry to build capacity, says Director of Clinical Services Dr Charles Olaro. Public health information campaigns broadcast to at-risk areas have been key in preventing the spread since the first case of Ebola was reported over the border in DR Congo last August. Mass gatherings, including market days and prayers, have been cancelled. Market days in the town of Kasese attract an estimated 20,000 people at the border area. Uganda's health ministry and the WHO said a rapid response team had been dispatched to identify others at risk. The country has already vaccinated about 4,700 health workers against the disease, according to a joint statement by WHO and Ugandan health officials. Ebola screening centres are in operation along the border with DR Congo as well as other major entry and exit points. Authorities have identified 22 high-risk districts - places that are close to the border and have high levels of movement - and deployed medical monitors to spot and manage any cases they find. A database of experts is on hand to deal with different scenarios, the health ministry says, and Uganda also benefits from the expertise of health workers it deployed to contain previous outbreaks in West Africa." } ], "id": "185_0", "question": "How prepared is Uganda?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4388, "answer_start": 3419, "text": "Nearly 1,400 people have died over the last 10 months - around 70% of all those infected. The outbreak is the second-largest in the history of the disease, with a significant spike in new cases in recent weeks. Only once before has an outbreak continued to grow more than eight months after it began - that was the epidemic in West Africa between 2013-16, which killed 11,310 people. Some have predicted it could take up to two more years to bring to an end. The WHO has twice ruled that this Ebola outbreak is not yet a global emergency. I Efforts to contain the spread have been hindered by militia group violence and by suspicion towards foreign medical assistance. Nearly 200 health facilities have been attacked in DR Congo this year, forcing health workers to suspend or delay vaccinations and treatments. In February, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) put its activities on hold in Butembo and Katwa - two eastern cities in the outbreak's epicentre." } ], "id": "185_1", "question": "What's the situation in DR Congo?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratification. The BBC explains its complexities. The system which divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma (the Hindi word for religion, but here it means duty) is generally accepted to be more than 3,000 years old. Manusmriti, widely regarded to be the most important and authoritative book on Hindu law and dating back to at least 1,000 years before Christ was born, \"acknowledges and justifies the caste system as the basis of order and regularity of society\". The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation. At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma's head. Then came the Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, supposedly from his arms. The third slot went to the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were created from his thighs. At the bottom of the heap were the Shudras, who came from Brahma's feet and did all the menial jobs. The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. Outside of this Hindu caste system were the achhoots - the Dalits or the untouchables. For centuries, caste has dictated almost every aspect of Hindu religious and social life, with each group occupying a specific place in this complex hierarchy. Rural communities have long been arranged on the basis of castes - the upper and lower castes almost always lived in segregated colonies, the water wells were not shared, Brahmins would not accept food or drink from the Shudras, and one could marry only within one's caste. The system bestowed many privileges on the upper castes while sanctioning repression of the lower castes by privileged groups. Often criticised for being unjust and regressive, it remained virtually unchanged for centuries, trapping people into fixed social orders from which it was impossible to escape. Despite the obstacles, however, some Dalits and other low-caste Indians, such as BR Ambedkar who authored the Indian constitution, and KR Narayanan who became the nation's first Dalit president, have risen to hold prestigious positions in the country. Historians, though, say that until the 18th Century, the formal distinctions of caste were of limited importance to Indians, social identities were much more flexible and people could move easily from one caste to another. New research shows that hard boundaries were set by British colonial rulers who made caste India's defining social feature when they used censuses to simplify the system, primarily to create a single society with a common law that could be easily governed. Independent India's constitution banned discrimination on the basis of caste, and, in an attempt to correct historical injustices and provide a level playing field to the traditionally disadvantaged, the authorities announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for scheduled castes and tribes, the lowest in the caste hierarchy, in 1950. In 1989, quotas were extended to include a grouping called the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) which fall between the traditional upper castes and the lowest. In recent decades, with the spread of secular education and growing urbanisation, the influence of caste has somewhat declined, especially in cities where different castes live side-by-side and inter-caste marriages are becoming more common. In certain southern states and in the northern state of Bihar, many people began using just one name after social reform movements. Despite the changes though, caste identities remain strong, and last names are almost always indications of what caste a person belongs to. In recent years, there have been demands from several communities to be recognised as OBCs - in 2016 there were violent protests by the Jat community in Haryana and the Patel community led huge protests in Gujarat in 2015 demanding access to caste quotas. Both are prosperous and politically dominant communities, but they support their demand for caste quotas by saying large numbers in their communities are poor and suffering. Some say the caste system would have disappeared by now if the fires were not regularly fanned by politicians. At elections, many caste groups still vote as a block and are wooed by politicians looking for electoral gains. As a result, what was originally meant to be a temporary affirmative action plan to improve the lot of the unprivileged groups has now become a vote-grabbing exercise for many politicians.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1391, "answer_start": 337, "text": "Manusmriti, widely regarded to be the most important and authoritative book on Hindu law and dating back to at least 1,000 years before Christ was born, \"acknowledges and justifies the caste system as the basis of order and regularity of society\". The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation. At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma's head. Then came the Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, supposedly from his arms. The third slot went to the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were created from his thighs. At the bottom of the heap were the Shudras, who came from Brahma's feet and did all the menial jobs. The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. Outside of this Hindu caste system were the achhoots - the Dalits or the untouchables." } ], "id": "186_0", "question": "How did caste come about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2862, "answer_start": 1392, "text": "For centuries, caste has dictated almost every aspect of Hindu religious and social life, with each group occupying a specific place in this complex hierarchy. Rural communities have long been arranged on the basis of castes - the upper and lower castes almost always lived in segregated colonies, the water wells were not shared, Brahmins would not accept food or drink from the Shudras, and one could marry only within one's caste. The system bestowed many privileges on the upper castes while sanctioning repression of the lower castes by privileged groups. Often criticised for being unjust and regressive, it remained virtually unchanged for centuries, trapping people into fixed social orders from which it was impossible to escape. Despite the obstacles, however, some Dalits and other low-caste Indians, such as BR Ambedkar who authored the Indian constitution, and KR Narayanan who became the nation's first Dalit president, have risen to hold prestigious positions in the country. Historians, though, say that until the 18th Century, the formal distinctions of caste were of limited importance to Indians, social identities were much more flexible and people could move easily from one caste to another. New research shows that hard boundaries were set by British colonial rulers who made caste India's defining social feature when they used censuses to simplify the system, primarily to create a single society with a common law that could be easily governed." } ], "id": "186_1", "question": "How does caste work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3891, "answer_start": 2863, "text": "Independent India's constitution banned discrimination on the basis of caste, and, in an attempt to correct historical injustices and provide a level playing field to the traditionally disadvantaged, the authorities announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for scheduled castes and tribes, the lowest in the caste hierarchy, in 1950. In 1989, quotas were extended to include a grouping called the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) which fall between the traditional upper castes and the lowest. In recent decades, with the spread of secular education and growing urbanisation, the influence of caste has somewhat declined, especially in cities where different castes live side-by-side and inter-caste marriages are becoming more common. In certain southern states and in the northern state of Bihar, many people began using just one name after social reform movements. Despite the changes though, caste identities remain strong, and last names are almost always indications of what caste a person belongs to." } ], "id": "186_2", "question": "Is the system legal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4733, "answer_start": 3892, "text": "In recent years, there have been demands from several communities to be recognised as OBCs - in 2016 there were violent protests by the Jat community in Haryana and the Patel community led huge protests in Gujarat in 2015 demanding access to caste quotas. Both are prosperous and politically dominant communities, but they support their demand for caste quotas by saying large numbers in their communities are poor and suffering. Some say the caste system would have disappeared by now if the fires were not regularly fanned by politicians. At elections, many caste groups still vote as a block and are wooed by politicians looking for electoral gains. As a result, what was originally meant to be a temporary affirmative action plan to improve the lot of the unprivileged groups has now become a vote-grabbing exercise for many politicians." } ], "id": "186_3", "question": "What about job quotas?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US must research new technologies, such as a layer of sensors in space, to find and destroy incoming missiles, a Pentagon report says. The Missile Defence Review says the US should revamp its missile defence programme to combat foreign threats. It includes plans to study a possible orbital sensor system to intercept and stop missiles in their tracks. \"The world is changing and we're going to change much faster,\" President Trump said as he unveiled the review. The president previously ordered the military to create a sixth branch of the military to ensure \"American dominance in space\". Speaking ahead of the review's publication, an unnamed official reportedly said space was \"the key\" to missile defence. \"A space-based layer of sensors is something we are looking at to help get early warning and tracking and discrimination of missiles when they are launched,\" the official told reporters. However, the official stressed the military was only examining whether such a system could work, and that no decisions had been made. It comes after previously announced plans for more ground-based defence systems in Alaska. The review comes months after an expert commission published a sober report on President Trump's defence strategy which argued the US \"margin of superiority\" is now \"profoundly diminished\". It said there are \"urgent challenges that must be addressed if the United States is to avoid lasting damage to its national security. The weapons proposals in the new defence review echo US plans developed in 1980s. Known as \"Star Wars\", the Strategic Defence Initiative was a planned missile shield to protect the US from intercontinental ballistic missiles. President Ronald Reagan announced the concept in 1983, but it was eventually dropped in 1993 after the end of the Cold War. Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence and Diplomatic correspondent While it may all sound like a reprise of the ambitious \"Star Wars\" plans, the Pentagon's new proposals are more limited. Nonetheless, they would expand significantly on the missile defences that the US currently deploys. The aim is not just to defend against attacks from rogue states like North Korea, but to provide more expansive regional defences to cover deployed US forces and allies in key strategic areas of the world. But there are three fundamental questions to pose about Mr Trump's enthusiasm for expanded missile defence: Will the technologies - many of them not yet available - actually work? What will be the cost? And crucially what will be the strategic implications? Russia (and China too) may see all this as something that will undermine its own nuclear forces, potentially leading to a new arms race. While the US has recently focused its efforts on containing regional threats like North Korea and Russia, both China and Russia have been developing new weapons which some see as a threat to US military superiority. Russia has reportedly tested a hypersonic missile, while in 2018 the head of the Defence Intelligence Agency told Congress China was trying to counter missile defences by developing \"increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile warheads and hypersonic glide vehicles\". The US currently deploys four systems capable of destroying in-coming ballistic missiles, the BBC's Jonathan Marcus explains: Designed to counter incoming strategic ballistic missiles in the mid-course stage of their flight, they were first deployed in 2004. Today there are some 44 interceptor missiles deployed - the bulk of them are at Fort Greely in Alaska, with a small number at Vandenberg Air Force base in California. These are backed up by a variety of sea and land-based radars. The interceptor's kill vehicle is designed to hit the incoming warhead, something likened by some to hitting \"a bullet with a bullet\" Deployed both at sea on Aegis-equipped US warships and at two equivalent bases on land in Romania and another under construction in Poland. This system uses the powerful sensors of the Aegis combat system on board the warships along with variants of the Standard missile. Another hit-to-kill system. A more mobile system involving interceptor missiles and radars, which - as the name implies - is useful for defending a more limited area. Operated by the US Army, batteries are deployed in Guam, South Korea and Hawaii. Deployed by several countries around the world, this is a development of an anti-aircraft system designed to defend against short and medium-range ballistic missiles in the final stages of their flight. These defences are backed up by the Space-Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High) a small network of four dedicated satellites (two more are planned) and three additional sensors on other satellites. Their purpose is to provide early warning of missile launches.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2694, "answer_start": 1802, "text": "Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence and Diplomatic correspondent While it may all sound like a reprise of the ambitious \"Star Wars\" plans, the Pentagon's new proposals are more limited. Nonetheless, they would expand significantly on the missile defences that the US currently deploys. The aim is not just to defend against attacks from rogue states like North Korea, but to provide more expansive regional defences to cover deployed US forces and allies in key strategic areas of the world. But there are three fundamental questions to pose about Mr Trump's enthusiasm for expanded missile defence: Will the technologies - many of them not yet available - actually work? What will be the cost? And crucially what will be the strategic implications? Russia (and China too) may see all this as something that will undermine its own nuclear forces, potentially leading to a new arms race." } ], "id": "187_0", "question": "A new arms race?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West and her husband Kanye West have announced the birth of their third child - a baby girl delivered by a surrogate. Her surrogate had made their \"dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give\", she said. One woman who knows exactly what it is like to give that gift is Laura Mott, a 31-year-old from Essex, who acted as a surrogate mum last year. On 5 February, she gave birth to a 6lb 14 oz baby girl. Moments later, the baby was in the arms of her intended mother, Melissa. By the end of the day, Laura was back home having a Chinese takeaway, a bath and then bed - without baby. \"It was so emotional,\" says Laura. \"Joy for them and for me. They had completed their family and I had succeeded in doing something I'd always dreamed of.\" Laura - who has two daughters, aged seven and three and is pregnant again with her third child - says she knew she wanted to be a surrogate the moment she gave birth to her eldest. \"It was the thought of someone never being able to have a child. I knew straight away one billion per cent I would be a surrogate,\" she says. Laura had become friends with Melissa through a mutual friend and decided she wanted to help her once she heard about her circumstances. After Melissa's first son was born, she tried for a second but lost three babies one after the other at around 20 weeks. Doctors advised against trying again. So she tried surrogacy, first having another son and then turning to Laura when she wanted another child. Shortly after Laura's 30th birthday, a frozen embryo - formed from the egg and sperm of Melissa and her husband - was successfully transferred to Laura. Her daughters, her partner and the baby's parents were all present. \"It's like having an extended family,\" she explains. The pregnancy was straightforward - no morning sickness, no complications, and she had fortnightly scans with Melissa by her side. The two exchanged daily updates by text. When Laura felt the baby kick for the first time, her immediate thought was to let Melissa know. And it was Melissa and her husband's choice to find out whether it was boy or a girl. \"It was their child. I was the middleman,\" Laura says. In her experience, a lot of people found that idea hard to grasp. \"People keep asking how did I give up the baby. I just laugh. \"I never doubted that I'd be able to do it. I did not feel attached. It was completely different - we all knew we were having a baby for them,\" she says. \"Some people thought I was silly, some were supportive and some people said it was amazing I could do it, but they never would.\" Surrogacy is where a woman becomes pregnant with the intention of handing over the child to someone else after giving birth. Generally, she carries the baby for a couple or parent who cannot conceive themselves - they are known as \"intended parents\". There are two forms of surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother's egg is used, making her the genetic mother. In gestational surrogacy, the egg is provided by the intended mother or a donor. The egg is fertilised through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and then placed inside the surrogate. Surrogacy is allowed in the UK so long as the surrogate is not paid, or at least only paid expenses. Paying the mother a fee - known as commercial surrogacy - is legal in some US states. Laura says that her partner was supportive from the start, understanding it was a selfless act by Laura. The couple were open and honest with their own girls about the process, making it clear the baby was going back to her home, not their home. A non-legally binding contract was drawn up with the help of surrogacy agency, Cots, to agree on what to do in case of the worst possible what-ifs. The UK only allows for a surrogate's expenses to be covered, so Laura, a stay-at-home mum, was reimbursed for any maternity clothing, medication, travel and car park charges. \"I was never out of pocket,\" she says. \"They will probably forever feel indebted to me but I would never expect anything from them.\" In hospital, Melissa was by Laura's side when she gave birth. Her partner and Melissa's husband waited outside. There were tears of joy all round when the baby was delivered. And next month the two families will be together again one year on, to celebrate baby's first birthday. \"It was as perfect as it could be. I will definitely do it again,\" says Laura, who has already pencilled in another surrogacy for January next year.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3342, "answer_start": 2600, "text": "Surrogacy is where a woman becomes pregnant with the intention of handing over the child to someone else after giving birth. Generally, she carries the baby for a couple or parent who cannot conceive themselves - they are known as \"intended parents\". There are two forms of surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother's egg is used, making her the genetic mother. In gestational surrogacy, the egg is provided by the intended mother or a donor. The egg is fertilised through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and then placed inside the surrogate. Surrogacy is allowed in the UK so long as the surrogate is not paid, or at least only paid expenses. Paying the mother a fee - known as commercial surrogacy - is legal in some US states." } ], "id": "188_0", "question": "What is surrogacy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "There has been an explosion in interest in veganism, in recent years, driven largely by concerns about health, animal welfare and the environment. Vegans, for the uninitiated, do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any products derived from animals, including eggs, dairy products, and gelatin. There are now four times as many vegans in the UK as there were four years ago. So how hard is it to convert, and what are the potential health benefits? Veganism: Why is it on the up? Why I gave up being vegan Going vegan: Is it just a fad? What does a healthy vegan diet look like? For the latest series of Trust Me I'm A Doctor, Dr Giles Yeo decided to try it for a month and see if it was a lifestyle he could imagine adopting. As Dr Yeo quickly discovered, one of the tricky things about going vegan is that many products that don't sound as if they have anything to do with animals actually do. Eggs, cheese and meat are obvious no-nos but so is mayonnaise (contains eggs), some pastas (ditto), and wine (some alcoholic drinks use fish bones or proteins from other animals as part of the production process). As well as making sure you are not accidentally consuming animal products, one of the main challenges of going vegan is to make sure you're not missing out on any key nutrients. Following a vegan diet puts you at risk of getting insufficient vitamin D, which is needed for bone health. To get this through diet, vegans may need to rely on fortified foods, including some types of soy milk, rice milk, organic orange juice, and breakfast cereals. You may also want to consider taking a vitamin D supplement. Iodine deficiency is very common in the UK, particularly among young women. Cow's milk is our main source of iodine and non-dairy alternatives, such as almond milk, have much lower levels. You can get iodine from seaweed (though the amounts are unpredictable) but you will probably need to take a supplement. The other big concern is getting enough vitamin B12. You won't find it in seeds, nuts or vegetables, so vegans and vegetarians will need to stock up with fortified breakfast cereal or nutritional yeast. Will going vegan make you healthier? A recent analysis, which pulled together the results of 10 previous studies comparing the health of vegetarian and vegans against that of omnivores, suggests it will. The researchers found being a vegetarian or vegan was associated with a significantly lower risk of heart disease and cancer, though there was no difference in all-cause mortality. In other words, being a vegetarian or vegan was associated with being healthier but not necessarily with living longer. I say \"associated with\" because these were not the gold standard randomised controlled studies, where you take a large group of people and randomly allocate them to being vegan or omnivorous and see what happens. Such studies would be very hard to do. Instead, they compare people who are vegans with meat eaters and look for differences. Since vegans are likely to be more health conscious than the general population, it is possible that the health differences have nothing to do with the diet itself. So how did Dr Yeo get on? After being vegan for a month he had lost 4kg and brought in his belt by a notch. Along with the fall in his belly fat, his cholesterol also fell by 12%. So will he keep it up? \"I've been pleasantly surprised,\" he said, \"and though I don't plan to go vegan entirely, from now on I'll try and do at least a few days every month. \"I have to admit I was apprehensive about going vegan for a month, but once I learned a few recipes I was fine and I actually ended up enjoying it. For me, the key was not to cook vegan versions of meals that I would normally eat with meat, but to opt for recipes that were designed to be vegan in the first place. \"What I missed most while on the diet was eggs - I actually expected to miss meat a lot more.\" If you want to find out more about the benefits and risks of going vegan visit Trust Me I'm A Doctor.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4000, "answer_start": 2125, "text": "Will going vegan make you healthier? A recent analysis, which pulled together the results of 10 previous studies comparing the health of vegetarian and vegans against that of omnivores, suggests it will. The researchers found being a vegetarian or vegan was associated with a significantly lower risk of heart disease and cancer, though there was no difference in all-cause mortality. In other words, being a vegetarian or vegan was associated with being healthier but not necessarily with living longer. I say \"associated with\" because these were not the gold standard randomised controlled studies, where you take a large group of people and randomly allocate them to being vegan or omnivorous and see what happens. Such studies would be very hard to do. Instead, they compare people who are vegans with meat eaters and look for differences. Since vegans are likely to be more health conscious than the general population, it is possible that the health differences have nothing to do with the diet itself. So how did Dr Yeo get on? After being vegan for a month he had lost 4kg and brought in his belt by a notch. Along with the fall in his belly fat, his cholesterol also fell by 12%. So will he keep it up? \"I've been pleasantly surprised,\" he said, \"and though I don't plan to go vegan entirely, from now on I'll try and do at least a few days every month. \"I have to admit I was apprehensive about going vegan for a month, but once I learned a few recipes I was fine and I actually ended up enjoying it. For me, the key was not to cook vegan versions of meals that I would normally eat with meat, but to opt for recipes that were designed to be vegan in the first place. \"What I missed most while on the diet was eggs - I actually expected to miss meat a lot more.\" If you want to find out more about the benefits and risks of going vegan visit Trust Me I'm A Doctor." } ], "id": "189_0", "question": "Does it work?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Greece has \"seriously neglected\" its obligations to control the external frontier of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone, the European Commission says in a draft report. The assessment found failures to register, check and fingerprint migrants arriving in November. Greece is now likely to be given three months to rectify the situation. If it does not improve, the EU may recommend that other Schengen states reintroduce temporary border controls. The Greek government has hit out at what it called the EU's \"blame games\", criticising the lack of \"common action\" by European countries to respond to the migrant crisis. More than 850,000 migrants and refugees arrived in Greece last year. A further 44,000 have reached the Greek islands since the start of 2016, mostly arriving on Lesbos, Samos and Chios from the Turkish mainland. There is growing pressure on Athens to deal with the flow of migrants, most of whom go on to travel through Europe to countries such as Germany and Sweden. Several EU states, including Austria and Hungary, have already introduced temporary border controls, as the principle of passport-free travel comes under increased strain. Schengen: Controversial EU free movement deal explained Migrants feel chill as Europe tightens frontier checks On Wednesday, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference in Brussels that the \"draft report concludes that Greece seriously neglected its obligations\" under the Schengen agreement. He said there were \"serious deficiencies in the carrying out of external border controls that must be overcome and dealt with by the Greek authorities\". Spot checks by EU inspectors in November found Greece was failing to register arrivals properly, to fingerprint everyone, to see whether identity documents were genuine, and to check people against Interpol and other databases. EU Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos conceded that Greece had \"started undertaking efforts towards rectifying and complying with the Schengen rules\" since then. However, \"substantial improvements\" were needed. Responding to the draft report, the Greek government said it was \"not constructive to isolate Greece for creating a media impression\", based on outdated information. A spokeswoman said Greece had repeatedly asked for help from the EU's border force Frontex to boost controls, but that the response had been \"small\". Criticising a lack of EU progress on the crisis, she said: \"Greece has done more than it could to stand to its obligations. We expect from everyone else to do the same.\" The report must be approved by other Schengen members before the Commission can set the three-month deadline. But this is a serious warning to Greece to improve things, says the BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Brussels. Otherwise, border checks to limit the movement of migrants within Europe may be instituted, preventing those in Greece from travelling north. The prospect of many thousands more refugees and migrants coming this summer is what's worrying the countries they head for, primarily Austria, Germany and Sweden. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel told an audience on Tuesday: \"Of course we must significantly reduce the number of refugees and we are working on that.\" So it's likely Greece will now be given until mid-May to get to grips with the influx of people to its islands. And the timing is crucial. Mid-May could be when a summer surge of refugees reaching the EU is starting to peak. The temporary border controls which countries like Germany have in place will be due to expire. To prolong the controls governments will need an official assessment by the European Commission that Greece is still failing. Is EU's Schengen border-free dream at an end? On Monday, several EU states, which have already introduced temporary border controls, said they planned to prolong their restrictions for up to two years. Meanwhile the EU is said to be considering helping Macedonia, which is not a member of the EU or Schengen, to tighten security at its border with Greece. Greek Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas condemned the proposals, warning they would trap people. \"We do not intend to become a cemetery of souls,\" Mr Mouzalas told the Financial Times (behind paywall). He also told BBC Newsnight that Belgium had told his country to \"push\" migrants \"back in the sea\" as a solution to the crisis. However, Belgian Migration Minister Theo Francken condemned the claims, calling them \"grotesque and very regrettable\". A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2578, "answer_start": 1272, "text": "On Wednesday, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference in Brussels that the \"draft report concludes that Greece seriously neglected its obligations\" under the Schengen agreement. He said there were \"serious deficiencies in the carrying out of external border controls that must be overcome and dealt with by the Greek authorities\". Spot checks by EU inspectors in November found Greece was failing to register arrivals properly, to fingerprint everyone, to see whether identity documents were genuine, and to check people against Interpol and other databases. EU Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos conceded that Greece had \"started undertaking efforts towards rectifying and complying with the Schengen rules\" since then. However, \"substantial improvements\" were needed. Responding to the draft report, the Greek government said it was \"not constructive to isolate Greece for creating a media impression\", based on outdated information. A spokeswoman said Greece had repeatedly asked for help from the EU's border force Frontex to boost controls, but that the response had been \"small\". Criticising a lack of EU progress on the crisis, she said: \"Greece has done more than it could to stand to its obligations. We expect from everyone else to do the same.\"" } ], "id": "190_0", "question": "Which countries are in the Schengen zone?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": " Female characters in Game of Thrones speak about three times less than male characters in the show, according to new data given to BBC 100 Women. Although the hugely popular show ended this week after eight seasons, the debate on how it represented women will continue. The data by research group Ceretai suggests that across all eight seasons, male speech amounts to about 75% of all speaking time in the series. - Follow the BBC's Game of Thrones coverage here. The share of female speaking time varied between seasons, starting at about a quarter in season one and rising slightly to a third by season seven. However, the final season, which saw many female characters at the forefront of the plot, was among the worst for female speaking time. The data was compiled by Ceretai, a Swedish start-up that uses machine learning to analyse diversity in popular culture. Their algorithm has learned to identify the difference between male and female voices in video and provides the speaking time lengths in seconds and percentages per gender. Like most automatic systems, it doesn't make the right decision every time. The accuracy of this algorithm is about 85%, so figures could be slightly higher or lower than reported - but the data suggests that speaking times for men and women in the programme are far from being equal. Lisa Hamberg, co-founder of Ceretai, told the BBC that by analysing Game of Thrones, they wanted to make viewers aware of the wider problem of how women are portrayed in the media. \"We are not doing this to make people stop watching, but to make them aware of the fact that it's an unfair representation of the world\", she says. Researchers were expecting to see about 30% of the speaking time to be the voices of female characters. This is the average given to women on screen, according to research by the USC Annenberg on inequality in 900 popular films. The highest proportion of female speech in Game of Thrones is found in the fifth episode of season 4, First of His Name. Storylines with leading female characters such as Cersei Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen make female speech almost equal to male speech, at nearly half of the total. One of the worst episodes for equality of speaking time across all seasons is the seventh of season one, You Win or You Die, with female characters saying just one sixth of the dialogue. The episode included a scene that led to the coining of the term \"sexposition\" by critic Myles McNutt, referring to the use of sex scenes in the series as a way to explain plot and character motivations. Diversity seemed to improve across the middle series, and by season seven the show saw one of the highest percentages of female speech - at about one third. But the final season of Game of Thrones has the lowest average for female speech - just one in five times the overall speaking time, according to the algorithm used for the analysis. Hamberg said: \"Our hope was to see a positive trend, but this [data] tells us the opposite\". The fourth episode, The Last of the Starks, gives less than 20% of speaking time to women. And the season finale, which aired on Sunday night in the US and on Monday in the UK, saw a gender split of about 80% for male characters and only 20% for their female counterparts - one of the lowest across the series. These findings may surprise some fans, as the final season has been lauded for showcasing strong female characters. From Daenerys to Arya Stark, we have seen their battles and vendettas take centre stage. Dr Stephanie Genz, a media studies lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, said the visibility of these female characters doesn't tell the full story. \"You've got this misperception that because women are very visible, their bodies are very visible, that somehow equates to a meaningful statement, which doesn't necessarily have to be the case.\" Women, especially in the earlier series, \"speak with their bodies\", according to Dr Genz, and \"the audience will not necessarily notice how little they speak.\" \"It's just confirming what we know in society anyway - that women's voices are underrepresented.\" Game of Thrones has been criticised for the over-sexualisation of female characters and its portrayal of violence against women. Some of show's actors have defended the show in the past, rejecting accusations of misogyny and highlighting that \"the key players this season are all female\". There is a huge difference in the amount of words given to male versus female characters in films, according to previous research by software developer Hanah Anderson. Of the 2,000 screenplays analysed by Anderson, three quarters had more than 60% male dialogue. BBC 100 Women analysis also suggested that fewer than half of films named best picture at the Oscars have passed a common measure of on-screen female representation known as the Bechdel Test. A film passes the test if it has two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. An analysis by US software firm Looker on the number of lines assigned to male and female characters also shows an uneven gender split. To even the playing field between male and female characters, researchers isolated the top 15 speakers of each gender, to include those with the highest number of lines in the scripts in seasons 1 to 7. The line count for these top 30 speakers revealed that Game of Thrones' men have 29% more lines than women, their data suggests. So, who speaks the most? Tyrion Lannister is solidly in the lead with more than 1,300 lines - 32% more than the first top female speaker, Cersei Lannister, who appears in third place after her youngest brother and Jon Snow. Men make up nine of the top 15 characters with the most lines. And even dead male characters are given more dialogue than female characters who are still alive. For instance, by the end of series seven, Ned Stark - who did not make it past the first season - still had more lines attributed to him than to both Margaery Tyrell and Melisandre. \"Even though we already knew men get more screen time than women, the results still surprised us,\" says Sooji Kim, Looker's web optimization manager. \"No matter how we sliced the data, we still found that female characters consistently had less visibility\". A previous analysis from Looker revealed that the total screen time for all male characters was some 15% more than that given to the female cast. While the gender gap in screen time is not as large as speaking time, it is still lower than many may have thought, researchers suggest. Sooji Kim adds: \"The public perception is that female Game of Thrones characters are very strong and prominent, even when they are on screen less and have fewer speaking opportunities. \"Are powerful women [on screen] so rare that they leave such an impression in our minds, so even when they're not present, they still stand out?\" So, what do the women of Westeros say when they do speak? Looker's data shows that male characters tended to have more masculine-centred words in their lines, such as men, man, King, and Lord. But for female characters, the more frequent words were love, leave, please, husband and master. \"That being said, popular female-spoken words did include specific words like daughter and Arya - and stupid and liar- which were used more often than among men\", says Sooji Kim. \"Overall, the actions and words women are participating in are still very attached to gender-related stereotypes\". HBO did not respond to requests for comments regarding the data on female speech in the series. But while Game of Thrones is just one programme, it points to a larger problem in popular culture, according to Lisa Hamberg, whose team conducted the speech analysis of the series. \"We are getting more aware of the kind of roles women get to play in movies, but if we have a strong female character and she still doesn't get to speak - we are failing.\" Produced by BBC 100 Women's Georgina Pearce and Valeria Perasso. Graphics by Elisabetta Tollardo and Debie Loizou, BBC Languages' Visual Journalism. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year and shares their stories. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use #100Women Read more:", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4980, "answer_start": 4408, "text": "There is a huge difference in the amount of words given to male versus female characters in films, according to previous research by software developer Hanah Anderson. Of the 2,000 screenplays analysed by Anderson, three quarters had more than 60% male dialogue. BBC 100 Women analysis also suggested that fewer than half of films named best picture at the Oscars have passed a common measure of on-screen female representation known as the Bechdel Test. A film passes the test if it has two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man." } ], "id": "191_0", "question": "How does GoT compare with the wider film industry?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8256, "answer_start": 8071, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year and shares their stories. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use #100Women Read more:" } ], "id": "191_1", "question": "What is 100 Women?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A nerve agent was used to try to murder a former Russian spy and his daughter, police have said. Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon and remain critically ill. A police officer who was the first to attend the scene is now in a serious condition in hospital, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said. Nerve agents are highly toxic chemicals that stop the nervous system working and shut down bodily functions. They normally enter the body through the mouth or nose, but can also be absorbed through the eyes or skin. Mr Rowley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said government scientists had identified the agent used, but would not make that information public at this stage. \"This is being treated as a major incident involving attempted murder, by administration of a nerve agent,\" he said. \"Having established that a nerve agent is the cause of the symptoms... I can also confirm that we believe that the two people who became unwell were targeted specifically.\" He said there was no evidence of a widespread health risk to the public. Two other police officers who attended the scene were treated in hospital for minor symptoms, before they were given the all clear. It is understood their symptoms included itchy eyes and wheezing. By Richard Galpin, BBC News correspondent - formerly based in Moscow The announcement by the police that Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are the victims of an attack in which a nerve agent was used makes the parallel with the poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 even stronger. Like the radioactive polonium used to kill Litvinenko, a nerve agent is not normally something criminal gangs or terrorist groups can make. Instead, it is usually manufactured by specialist laboratories under the control of governments - and that inevitably means suspicion will now be very much focused on Russia. Not only does it have a track record of using poisons to assassinate its enemies, there is also a motive in the case of Sergei Skripal. As a military intelligence officer in Russia, he betrayed his country by providing information to MI6, reportedly revealing the identities of Russian agents in Europe. And Russian President Vladimir Putin has in the past indicated that traitors deserve to die. Although the question remains, why would Mr Skripal be attacked now when he has been living in Britain for eight years and came here originally as part of a spy swap? Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter were found slumped on a bench outside the Maltings shopping centre. Police want to speak to anyone who was in the city centre on Sunday afternoon. They are particularly keen to hear from people who ate at Zizzi or drank in The Bishop's Mill pub between 13:00 and 16:00 GMT. Both of those locations remain closed to the public. There is also a cordon in place outside Mr Skripal's Salisbury home. A yellow forensic tent has been erected and police have been seen carrying equipment into the building. Mr Rowley said hundreds of detectives, forensic specialists, analysts and intelligence officers were working round the clock on the case. The investigation in Salisbury may take several more days, he added. Prof Malcolm Sperrin, fellow of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, said: \"Symptoms of exposure to nerve agents may include respiratory arrest, heart failure, twitching or spasms - anything where the nerve control is degraded. \"Nerve agents can cause death, but not necessarily at low-level exposure or with a minor dose.\" Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, added: \"These are very difficult and dangerous chemicals to make.\" A public inquiry concluded the killing of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 was probably carried out with the approval of President Putin. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs the UK would respond \"robustly\" to any evidence of Russian \"state responsibility\" in the Skripal case. Russia has insisted it has \"no information\" about what could have led to the incident, but is open to co-operating with British police if requested. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said foreign media had used the incident as part of an anti-Russian campaign. \"It's a traditional campaign. The tradition is to make things up. We can only see it as a provocation,\" she said. Colonel Skripal, a retired Russian military intelligence officer, was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006. He was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. In July 2010, he was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in exchange for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI. After a Cold War-style spy swap at Austria's Vienna airport, Col Skripal moved to Salisbury, where he kept a low profile for eight years. Do you have any information to share on this story? Email [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +447555 173285 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4947, "answer_start": 4436, "text": "Colonel Skripal, a retired Russian military intelligence officer, was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006. He was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. In July 2010, he was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in exchange for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI. After a Cold War-style spy swap at Austria's Vienna airport, Col Skripal moved to Salisbury, where he kept a low profile for eight years." } ], "id": "192_0", "question": "Who is Sergei Skripal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "From trips to Winter Wonderland to mistletoe kisses, the Christmas season can feel like it's all about relationships. If you're single, a constant stream of Mariah Carey's \"All I Want for Christmas Is You\" on top of an Instagram feed full of beanie-wearing, mulled-wine-sipping couples is enough to leave you feeling like an unwanted present. But, to use Emma Watson's phrase, many people are happy to be \"self-partnered\" this December. As relationship expert Jo Barnett says: \"Christmas is not the time to stress about finding a partner.\" Instead, Jo's advice is to \"embrace the position you're in now, because this time next year you may be in a relationship\". \"Dating at Christmas is expensive and there are so many other things going on.\" Daniel Barry is happily single. And he's not alone - Radio 1 Newsbeat spoke to several people who are rejecting being part of a cosy couple. Daniel says he's quit online dating for \"fear of going on dates over Christmas\". \"I'm going for the opposite of being loved-up at Christmas. I'm deliberately being single. \"I came off dating apps in November when people were still trying to match with me, so I'm refusing to match them.\" Although he jokes: \"I don't think they're going to be that gutted!\" The 27-year-old from Belfast is actively avoiding classic festive dates. \"Christmas markets are expensive and I'm terrified of ice skating. I don't want to make a fool of myself while getting to know someone. I'm also scared of getting a finger chopped off!\" Hannah Domney's been in a relationship for the past four years but split with her boyfriend in the summer. This is the first festive season in years when she feels she can travel. \"I'm gonna beat being the miserable, lonely girl this Christmas and do everything I can to have fun.\" The 25-year-old hairdresser says she's swapping a cold, family Christmas in Hull for Mexico. \"I'm flying to Tulum on Christmas Eve and I'm going to be spending the day on a beach with one of my best friends. \"I've been gunning to get away at Christmas for quite a while and this is the first year I've got a real reason to not be at home.\" As opposed to feeling lonely during December, Hannah's looking forward to January. \"My old boss always used to say, 'everybody breaks up before Christmas so they don't have the stress of families and presents, it's in the new year that everyone feels the romance' - so I'm living for that!\" She's also looking forward to putting herself first. \"When you're in a relationship, you have to think about your partner's presents and making their family feel loved too - it's nice to be selfish.\" Nicky Murphy is relieved he doesn't have to juggle two families. The 33-year-old tells Newsbeat: \"When I've been in relationships, my boyfriends tended to live in separate countries. At Christmas, I always leave London to go home to Ireland, so it can be difficult splitting your time. \"I'm really close to my mam and nanny and I'm aware they're getting older, so Christmas with them will always take priority over a relationship.\" Nicky's also excited about planning a stress-free start to 2020. \"Being single means there's less pressure on New Year's Eve. In previous relationships, I've been expected to do what my partner wanted to do with his friends as opposed to what I would like to do.\" And it's not as if he'll be missing out on gifts. \"I always buy myself the present I'd buy for a boyfriend. \"I've had my eye on a ring for a while - I was feeling guilty about spending a few hundred quid on myself but coming up to Christmas, I feel I can buy it!\" Some people can't think of anything worse than the office Christmas party, but it's one of the things Jyoty Singh is looking forward to the most this December. The London-based DJ, 28, tells Newsbeat: \"I've done some Black Friday shopping and there are some spicy Christmas dresses in my basket.\" For the past three Christmases, Jyoty has had a boyfriend but this year she's single and looking forward to flirting. \"This season is gonna get extra festive because at all these parties I can wander around looking like a little Christmas present, ready to be unwrapped this year.\" She's also happy to be saving money. \"Now I'm not dating I get out of buying my partner presents and buying over-priced mulled wine at Christmas markets. I'd rather have a few drinks at home with my girlfriends\". Although Jyoty is Sikh and doesn't celebrate Christmas, she \"loves the season and the spirit\". \"On Christmas Day, I can easily put on a festive film like Love Actually and it doesn't make me sad because I'm such a romantic. \"I just think 'how cute'. While I know that people out there are experiencing that love right now, I know I'll experience it in the future.\" It's something Hannah agrees with. \"I've never experienced a Christmas film-style romance in real life, so the fantasy feeling of it still makes me feel warm inside.\" Daniel, on the other hand, is just happy to have some peace and quiet. \"I'm smug. I can happily watch Love Actually on my own and not have anyone bothering me.\" Dating coach Jo Barnett, who is single herself, says anyone who isn't feeling so positive about their single status should forget December dates and wait till the new year. \"January is a fantastic time to meet someone. \"It's a fresh start and a lot of people will be excited. Towards the end of the year people are tired and, sadly, a lot of people become single at Christmas, so there are more options in the new year.\" Jo thinks the best way to meet a partner is to \"get out\". \"There are so many dating apps, but I recommend going to speed dating nights and parties - meet people face to face.\" But if online dating is more your thing, she says \"choose one or two apps and be patient, it doesn't happen straight away\". So, it seems it's single bells (sorry) all the way... until January at least. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5855, "answer_start": 5057, "text": "Dating coach Jo Barnett, who is single herself, says anyone who isn't feeling so positive about their single status should forget December dates and wait till the new year. \"January is a fantastic time to meet someone. \"It's a fresh start and a lot of people will be excited. Towards the end of the year people are tired and, sadly, a lot of people become single at Christmas, so there are more options in the new year.\" Jo thinks the best way to meet a partner is to \"get out\". \"There are so many dating apps, but I recommend going to speed dating nights and parties - meet people face to face.\" But if online dating is more your thing, she says \"choose one or two apps and be patient, it doesn't happen straight away\". So, it seems it's single bells (sorry) all the way... until January at least." } ], "id": "193_0", "question": "New Year, new lover?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Twelve separatist leaders on trial over their role in Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid have given defiant final statements in Madrid. On the last day of proceedings after four months of hearings, the defendants said they were victims of an injustice in a trial built on \"false\" charges. Some of the leaders of the Spanish region are accused of rebellion and sedition and could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty. A verdict is not expected for months. After an October 2017 Catalan referendum, declared illegal by Spain's courts, Catalonia's separatist leaders declared independence. The highest-ranking pro-independence leader on trial, former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, is accused of rebellion along with eight others. He could be given up to 25 years in jail but was elected to the European Parliament last month. Under Spanish law, the charge of rebellion involves a public violent uprising - something the 12 defendants deny ever happened. The defendants argue their declaration of independence was aimed at implementing the democratic will of Catalans following an unauthorised referendum. The Catalan crisis is seen as the most serious for Spain since the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 and the country's transition to democracy. The defendants were each given 15 minutes to present their final arguments to prosecutors. Mr Junqueras told the court while he may have made mistakes, his actions had demonstrated his commitment to democracy and social harmony. \"Voting and defending the republic from a parliament cannot be a crime,\" he said. Before the session began, a senior justice official recommended that Mr Junqueras be temporarily released from custody on 17 June to be sworn in as an MEP. The solicitor general said the decision was up to electoral authorities. Activist and former president of the Catalan National Assembly Jordi Sanchez used his time to argue he was the \"victim of an injustice\", adding: \"There are no ideas or principles that should be silenced.\" Carme Forcadell, former speaker of the Catalan parliament, said the serious charges against her were \"false\" and that she hoped to return to politics following the verdict. Defence lawyers earlier said during closing arguments that their clients all denied the charges of rebellion and sedition, but admitted to the lesser charge of disobedience, which could see them banned from public office but avoid prison. Another prominent figure in court on Wednesday was Jordi Cuixart, president of Catalan language and culture organisation Omnium Cultural. The remaining defendants are: - Joaquim Forn, former interior minister - Jordi Turull, former Catalan government spokesman - Raul Romeva, former external relations minister - Dolors Bassa, former labour minister - Josep Rull, former territorial minister - Carles Mundo, former justice minister - Meritxell Borras, former governance minister - Santi Vila, former business minister Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan president, escaped trial after fleeing Spain in late October 2017 before he could be arrested, along with four others. Prosecutors argue that the defendants' unilateral declaration of independence was an attack on the Spanish state and have accused some of those involved of a serious act of rebellion. There is also an accusation of misuse of public funds, in organising a referendum declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court. Prosecutors say the leaders carried out a \"perfectly planned strategy... to break the constitutional order and obtain the independence of Catalonia\" illegally. Ms Forcadell, who read out the independence result on 27 October 2017, is accused of allowing parliamentary debates on independence despite warnings from Spain's Constitutional Court. Some of the accused, speaking to the BBC ahead of the trial, said the proceedings were political in nature. Any violence, they said, was on the part of police and was committed against voters in a crackdown which made headlines around the world. Nine of the defendants have spent months in pre-trial detention. The remaining three were released on bail. Three weeks after the banned vote on 1 October 2017, the Catalan parliament declared an independent republic. Madrid stepped in to impose its rule on the region, and several Catalan leaders fled or were arrested. Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years, sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain, as taxes are controlled by Madrid. The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2436, "answer_start": 1280, "text": "The defendants were each given 15 minutes to present their final arguments to prosecutors. Mr Junqueras told the court while he may have made mistakes, his actions had demonstrated his commitment to democracy and social harmony. \"Voting and defending the republic from a parliament cannot be a crime,\" he said. Before the session began, a senior justice official recommended that Mr Junqueras be temporarily released from custody on 17 June to be sworn in as an MEP. The solicitor general said the decision was up to electoral authorities. Activist and former president of the Catalan National Assembly Jordi Sanchez used his time to argue he was the \"victim of an injustice\", adding: \"There are no ideas or principles that should be silenced.\" Carme Forcadell, former speaker of the Catalan parliament, said the serious charges against her were \"false\" and that she hoped to return to politics following the verdict. Defence lawyers earlier said during closing arguments that their clients all denied the charges of rebellion and sedition, but admitted to the lesser charge of disobedience, which could see them banned from public office but avoid prison." } ], "id": "194_0", "question": "What happened in court?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4125, "answer_start": 3112, "text": "Prosecutors argue that the defendants' unilateral declaration of independence was an attack on the Spanish state and have accused some of those involved of a serious act of rebellion. There is also an accusation of misuse of public funds, in organising a referendum declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court. Prosecutors say the leaders carried out a \"perfectly planned strategy... to break the constitutional order and obtain the independence of Catalonia\" illegally. Ms Forcadell, who read out the independence result on 27 October 2017, is accused of allowing parliamentary debates on independence despite warnings from Spain's Constitutional Court. Some of the accused, speaking to the BBC ahead of the trial, said the proceedings were political in nature. Any violence, they said, was on the part of police and was committed against voters in a crackdown which made headlines around the world. Nine of the defendants have spent months in pre-trial detention. The remaining three were released on bail." } ], "id": "194_1", "question": "What are the accusations?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4652, "answer_start": 4126, "text": "Three weeks after the banned vote on 1 October 2017, the Catalan parliament declared an independent republic. Madrid stepped in to impose its rule on the region, and several Catalan leaders fled or were arrested. Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years, sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain, as taxes are controlled by Madrid. The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem." } ], "id": "194_2", "question": "What is behind the Catalonia controversy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Four states held primary elections on Tuesday, but all eyes were on Ohio's special congressional election. The state has lost a bit of its reputation as a bellwether state, but it was an early harbinger of Donald Trump's 2016 strength in the industrial Midwest. That helps explain why Tuesday's congressional race - the last major special election before November's national mid-terms - was so closely watched. Although that contest has yet to be decided, there are some lessons to be learned from the race - as well as other results from a busy night in politics across the US. In Ohio, Republicans were scrambling to boost Troy Balderson to victory and maintain control of a congressional seat they have held for 35 years. The party poured money into the race, Donald Trump held a rally to support the candidate and John Kasich - the still-popular Ohio Republican governor - cut a last-minute television advertisement. It appears to have been enough - barely - although Mr Balderson only has a 1,754-vote lead with a reported 3,435 provisional and at least 5,048 absentee ballots left to be counted later this month. Regardless of who wins - and this seat will be up for election again in November - the takeaways are clear. This was a congressional district that Mr Trump won by 11% over Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Republican incumbent, who retired at the beginning of this year, consistently cruised to victory with more than 60% of the vote This was supposed to be a safe seat - but it wasn't. The election results revealed a clear urban-rural divide, as the Franklin County suburbs of the Ohio capital Columbus went overwhelmingly for Democrat Danny O'Connor. Outlying areas backed Mr Balderson, although turnout was well down from 2016. That's a dynamic that could play out time and time again in November, which could be bad news for Republicans running in key suburban swing districts. According to the Cook Political Report, there are 68 Republican-held congressional districts less conservative than this one. Democrats have to flip 23 to win control of the House. Mr Trump, in a tweet (prematurely) congratulating Mr Balderson on his victory concluded by writing that \"November can't come fast enough\". It's sentiment with which many Democrats will probably agree. Missouri voters rejected a proposal to pass a \"right to work\" law, which would have allowed employees in union-represented companies to decline to pay non-member dues to support collective bargaining efforts. The state's Republicans had scheduled the vote during the state's primary, rather than the general election, in the hopes that Democratic turnout would be lower. They were wrong. The measure lost by 35%. In Washington state, which has a primary system where candidates from all parties compete and the top two move on to the general election, Republicans are also contemplating less-than-encouraging showing. While all the results aren't in, two Republican incumbents are pulling less than 50% of the vote, including Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a member of the party's congressional leadership. In an open Seattle-area seat that has been held by Republicans since 1983, the party's candidate, Dino Rossi, garnered only 43% against mostly Democratic opponents. Back in the Republican wave year of 1994, Washington was ground zero for the decimation of the Democratic congressional ranks, losing - among others - the sitting Speaker of the House, Tom Foley. This year it could help spell Republican doom. In June, first time candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, campaigning as a Democratic Socialist, shocked the political world by winning a New York primary challenge against a top-ranking Democratic member of Congress. Critics cautioned not to read too much into the results, however, theorising that Ms Ocasio-Cortez's across-the-board progressive agenda played well in her New York borough district but wouldn't fly in other parts of the US. That conclusion faced a big test on Tuesday, and the results were a mixed bag. In the Michigan governor's primary, the highest-profile Democratic race, Gretchen Whitmer comfortably defeated Abdul El-Sayed, who was attempting to be the first Muslim-American governor in US history. Ms Ocasio-Cortez and progressive icon Bernie Sanders had both campaigned for Mr El-Sayed in the run-up to the election, but their support ended up being not nearly enough. The progressive duo also campaigned for labour lawyer Brent Welder, but after a long night of vote-counting he narrowly fell to Sharice Davids, who was backed by a powerful women's political group. Elsewhere in Michigan, Rashida Tliab - who was backed in a crowded field by Justice Democrats, the same political action group that boosted Ms Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive candidates - won her primary and is virtually assured of being the first Muslim-American woman in Congress. Even if some progressives stumbled on Tuesday, however, the party as a whole - including more traditional \"establishment\" candidates - continues to move toward widespread support for policies like universal healthcare and debt-free or no-tuition college education. Even in losing the battles, the Democratic left appears to be winning the war. Donald Trump's overall popularity with the US public may be mired in the low 40s, but he's approaching record levels of support within Republican ranks. That approval once again translated into an ability to move votes through his primary endorsements - as it had in recent contested races in South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. In Michigan on Tuesday, his chosen candidate to challenge Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow cruised to an easy win. In Kansas Kris Kobach - an early Trump backer who chaired the president's now defunct election fraud commission - is locked in a tight, yet-to-be decided race against incumbent Republican governor Jeff Colyer. Many Republican Party elders had urged Mr Trump to stay out of Kansas, believing Mr Colyer - who had been appointed to fill a governorship vacancy - would be the better general-election candidate. The president rewarded Mr Kobach, an outspoken advocate of conservative immigration reform and voting restrictions, for his loyalty with a coveted endorsement, however. It may end up enough to tip the scales in his favour. Another round of primaries, another round of wins for women candidates - particularly among Democratic ranks. Democrats have now nominated women for at least eight of the 36 governors elections this November (Republicans have selected three). Tuesday's balloting also ensured a record number of major-party women candidates running for the US House of Representatives, at 185 - besting the previous mark of 167 with many primaries left to be held. The #MeToo movement that broke on the national stage last year appears to be exerting a gravitational pull on US politics, although the true test will be not in nominations secured but political offices won in November. As Americans prepare to go to the polls in November, what are the issues that matter to you? And if you live outside the US, what do you want to know about politics here? Send us your comments or questions to [email protected] and we will respond as part of our Ask America series, a project getting different perspectives from around the country.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5209, "answer_start": 3487, "text": "In June, first time candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, campaigning as a Democratic Socialist, shocked the political world by winning a New York primary challenge against a top-ranking Democratic member of Congress. Critics cautioned not to read too much into the results, however, theorising that Ms Ocasio-Cortez's across-the-board progressive agenda played well in her New York borough district but wouldn't fly in other parts of the US. That conclusion faced a big test on Tuesday, and the results were a mixed bag. In the Michigan governor's primary, the highest-profile Democratic race, Gretchen Whitmer comfortably defeated Abdul El-Sayed, who was attempting to be the first Muslim-American governor in US history. Ms Ocasio-Cortez and progressive icon Bernie Sanders had both campaigned for Mr El-Sayed in the run-up to the election, but their support ended up being not nearly enough. The progressive duo also campaigned for labour lawyer Brent Welder, but after a long night of vote-counting he narrowly fell to Sharice Davids, who was backed by a powerful women's political group. Elsewhere in Michigan, Rashida Tliab - who was backed in a crowded field by Justice Democrats, the same political action group that boosted Ms Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive candidates - won her primary and is virtually assured of being the first Muslim-American woman in Congress. Even if some progressives stumbled on Tuesday, however, the party as a whole - including more traditional \"establishment\" candidates - continues to move toward widespread support for policies like universal healthcare and debt-free or no-tuition college education. Even in losing the battles, the Democratic left appears to be winning the war." } ], "id": "195_0", "question": "A progressive stumble?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "New guidelines on the maximum amount of alcohol people should drink in a week have been welcomed by Scottish health campaigners. It comes as chief medical officers across the UK changed their guidance on alcohol's impact on health. Men and women are now both advised to consume no more than 14 units per week - a drop from the previous guidance of 21 units for men. The change is in response to evidence of the risk of alcohol causing cancer. The new guidance also takes account of the harmful effects of binge-drinking, and brings the rest of the UK into line with Scotland by advising women not to drink any alcohol during pregnancy. It the first time the UK guidelines have been updated since 1995 - although Scotland has updated its guidance more recently. The new guidance also says: - People should have several alcohol-free days a week and not \"save up\" their 14 units for a binge-drinking session - Anyone who drinks as much as 14 units per week should spread it evenly over three days or more - Heavy drinking sessions can increase the risk of death from long-term illnesses and from accidents and injuries - The risk of developing a range of illnesses including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast, increases with any amount you drink on a regular basis - People should also drink more slowly, consume alcohol with food and alternate alcohol with water - Evidence that alcohol such as red wine is beneficial for health \"is considered less strong than it was\" - Only women aged 55 and over may benefit from the protective effect of drinking on heart health Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said she was \"pleased\" by the move. She added: \"Our understanding of the adverse effects alcohol can have on health has developed significantly in recent years. \"Every drink adds up and over time can lead to serious health problems such as breast cancer, high blood pressure, stroke and chronic liver disease. \"If men and women limit their intake to no more than 14 units a week it keeps the risk of developing these conditions low.\" One unit of alcohol is about half a pint of lower-strength lager, beer or cider (ABV 3.6%), or a single measure of spirits (25ml, ABV 40%) A 175ml glass of wine (ABV 12%) is 2.1 units and a pint of strong beer (ABV 5.2%) is three units A 330ml bottle of lager (ABV 5%) is 1.7 units To work out how many units there are in any drink, multiply the total volume of a drink (in ml) by its ABV (which is measured as a percentage) and divide the result by 1,000 Source: NHS Choices Dr Calderwood also welcomed the other UK nations joining Scotland in advising women that it is safest not to drink at all during pregnancy. She said: \"Although the risk of harm to the baby is low if they have drunk small amounts of alcohol before becoming aware of the pregnancy, there is no 'safe' level of alcohol to drink when pregnant.\" Eric Carlin, director of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, said the new advice would help people make informed choices about alcohol to reduce the risk of harm. He added: \"I am especially happy that the public might now become more aware of risks of developing cancer and that the industry's claims for health benefits related to drinking have been dismissed by a systematic review of evidence.\" Alcohol education charity Drinkaware said its research suggested that alcohol-related health risks such as heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer were not commonly understood by many people. It said lowering the maximum limit for men to 14 units per week - the same as for women - may help to simplify the message that excessive drinking carries an increased risk of damaging your health.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2061, "answer_start": 636, "text": "It the first time the UK guidelines have been updated since 1995 - although Scotland has updated its guidance more recently. The new guidance also says: - People should have several alcohol-free days a week and not \"save up\" their 14 units for a binge-drinking session - Anyone who drinks as much as 14 units per week should spread it evenly over three days or more - Heavy drinking sessions can increase the risk of death from long-term illnesses and from accidents and injuries - The risk of developing a range of illnesses including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast, increases with any amount you drink on a regular basis - People should also drink more slowly, consume alcohol with food and alternate alcohol with water - Evidence that alcohol such as red wine is beneficial for health \"is considered less strong than it was\" - Only women aged 55 and over may benefit from the protective effect of drinking on heart health Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said she was \"pleased\" by the move. She added: \"Our understanding of the adverse effects alcohol can have on health has developed significantly in recent years. \"Every drink adds up and over time can lead to serious health problems such as breast cancer, high blood pressure, stroke and chronic liver disease. \"If men and women limit their intake to no more than 14 units a week it keeps the risk of developing these conditions low.\"" } ], "id": "196_0", "question": "Want to know more?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Britain and the US are considering boycotting a major international conference in Saudi Arabia after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the BBC has learned. Mr Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, vanished on 2 October after visiting its consulate in Istanbul. The authorities in Istanbul believe he was murdered there by Saudi agents - claims Riyadh has dismissed as \"lies\". Donald Trump has said he will \"punish\" Saudi Arabia if it is responsible. Several sponsors and media groups have decided to pull out of this month's investment conference in Riyadh, dubbed Davos in the Desert, as a result of concerns over Mr Khashoggi's fate. Diplomatic sources have now told the BBC's James Landale both the US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox might not attend the event, which is being hosted by the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman to promote his reform agenda. A spokesman for the UK's international trade department said Dr Fox's diary was not yet finalised for the week of the conference. A joint statement of condemnation, if it is confirmed that Mr Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents, is also being discussed by US and European diplomats. However, Mr Khashoggi's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, has said words alone will not be good enough if he has been murdered. \"If we have already lost Jamal, then condemnation is not enough,\" she wrote in a piece for the New York Times. \"The people who took him from us, irrespective of their political positions, must be held accountable and punished to the full extent of the law.\" She added that Saturday had been Jamal's birthday. \"When your loved one leaves this world, the other world no longer seemed scary or far away. It is being left here all alone, without them, that is most painful.\" President Trump has said the US will inflict \"severe punishment\" on Saudi Arabia if the kingdom is found to be responsible for the death of Mr Khashoggi. He said he would be \"very upset and angry if that were the case\", but ruled out halting big military contracts. \"I think we'd be punishing ourselves if we did that,\" he said. \"If they don't buy it from us, they're going to buy it from Russia or... China.\" Turkish Foreign Minister Mevut Cavusoglu said Saudi Arabia was not yet co-operating with the investigation - despite a statement from Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz saying his nation wanted to uncover \"the whole truth\". Mr Cavusoglu has urged the kingdom to allow Turkish officials to enter the consulate. On Sunday, stocks on the Tadawul All-Shares Index plummeted 7% in early trading, wiping out all the gains made this year, before recovering slightly around noon. In two sessions it lost $50bn (PS38bn) of its $450bn capitalisation, AFP news agency reported. Salah Shamma, of Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity, told Reuters: \"It's the political environment. The market is reacting negatively to sentiment around the Khashoggi case.\" A Turkish security source has told the BBC that officials had audio and video evidence proving Mr Khashoggi, who wrote for the Washington Post, was murdered inside the consulate. Reports suggest an assault and struggle took place in the consulate after Mr Khashoggi entered the building to get some documents. Turkish sources allege he was killed by a 15-strong team of Saudi agents. Turkish TV has already broadcast CCTV footage of the moment Mr Khashoggi walked into the consulate for an appointment at which he was due to receive papers for his forthcoming marriage to Ms Cengiz.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3594, "answer_start": 3012, "text": "A Turkish security source has told the BBC that officials had audio and video evidence proving Mr Khashoggi, who wrote for the Washington Post, was murdered inside the consulate. Reports suggest an assault and struggle took place in the consulate after Mr Khashoggi entered the building to get some documents. Turkish sources allege he was killed by a 15-strong team of Saudi agents. Turkish TV has already broadcast CCTV footage of the moment Mr Khashoggi walked into the consulate for an appointment at which he was due to receive papers for his forthcoming marriage to Ms Cengiz." } ], "id": "197_0", "question": "What is alleged to have happened in Istanbul?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has expressed his \"extreme disappointment\" in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart following the seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf. It comes after Mr Hunt warned Iran may be choosing a \"dangerous path\" of \"illegal and destabilising\" behaviour. The Stena Impero's owners have been unable to contact the ship, which was surrounded in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the vessel was \"violating international maritime rules\". In the call, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Mr Hunt the ship must now go through a legal process, according to the Iranian news agency ISNA. A second British-owned Liberian-flagged tanker, the MV Mesdar, was also boarded by armed guards but was released on Friday. The Stena Impero was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday in a key waterway in the Gulf. The tanker was surrounded by four vessels and a helicopter before heading into Iranian waters, Mr Hunt said. \"We are not looking at military options,\" he said. \"We are looking at a diplomatic way to resolve this situation.\" A senior Iranian diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office in London following the ship's seizure. Mr Hunt confirmed he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart on Saturday afternoon. He said he expressed \"extreme disappointment that having assured me last Saturday Iran wanted to de-escalate the situation they have behaved in the opposite way.\" He also tweeted: \"Yesterday's action in Gulf shows worrying signs Iran may be choosing a dangerous path of illegal and destabilising behaviour after Gibraltar's legal detention of oil bound for Syria.\" Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also demanded the release of the tanker and its crew, urging all sides to \"show restraint\". He added in a tweet: \"Trump tearing up the Iran nuclear deal has fuelled confrontation.\" Another emergency Cobra committee meeting is due to be held later. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said the tanker was seized after it collided with a fishing boat and failed to respond to calls from the smaller craft. The vessel's owners said it was fully complying with regulations and was in international waters when it was approached. Stena Bulk said the 23 crew members, who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino, were in good health. It said it was preparing a formal request to visit those onboard the seized ship. A UK government spokeswoman told the BBC: \"We have advised UK shipping to stay out of the area for an interim period.\" Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted that the UK \"must cease being an accessory to #EconomicTerrorism of the US\". He said it was Iran that guarantees the security of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. \"Unlike the piracy in the Strait of Gibraltar, our action in the Persian Gulf is to uphold international maritime rules,\" he said. Abbasali Kadkhodaei, spokesman of the state watchdog the Guardian Council, said on Twitter that \"the law of retaliation is a recognised concept in international law\" shortly after the ship's seizure was announced. The latest developments come amid a deterioration in relations between Iran and the UK and US. Tensions between the US and Iran have risen sharply since April, when the US tightened sanctions it had reimposed on Iran after unilaterally withdrawing from a 2015 nuclear deal. The US blamed Iran for attacks on tankers in the world's key shipping area since May. Tehran denies all the accusations. On Friday, the US claimed to have destroyed an Iranian drone in the Gulf. Unlike the US, the UK government remains committed to the landmark nuclear deal, which curbs Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions tensions. However, the UK infuriated Iran after its Royal Marines helped seize an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar earlier this month. On Friday, Gibraltar granted a 30-day extension to allow authorities to continue detaining the tanker, which was suspected of carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. In retaliation for the seizure of Grace 1, Iran threatened to seize a British oil tanker. A week later, Iranian boats attempted to impede a British oil tanker in the region before being warned off by a Royal Navy ship, according to the Ministry of Defence. Iran denied any attempted seizure. Since then, the threat level to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf has remained at \"critical\". A White House National Security Council spokesman said the latest incident was the second time in just over a week the UK had been \"the target of escalatory violence\" by Iran. US President Donald Trump has responded to the developments by saying he would talk to the UK. And US Central Command said it was developing a multinational maritime effort in response to the situation. The US military said it wanted to promote maritime stability, ensure safe passage, and de-escalate tensions in international waters throughout the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Oman. France and Germany called on the Iranian authorities to quickly release the Stena Impero. Germany's foreign ministry condemned the \"unjustifiable intrusion\" on shipping through the route, adding that the seizure \"further exacerbates an already strained situation\". The French foreign ministry warned that the ship's seizure \"harms the needed de-escalation of tensions\" in the region. Also calling for the release of the ship, the European Union's foreign affairs office, which represents 28 member states, expressed \"deep concern\" and urged for \"restraint to avoid further tensions\". The first thing to remember is that this specific row between Tehran and London is only one aspect of an already highly volatile situation in the Gulf. The Trump administration's decision to walk away from the international nuclear deal with Iran and to re-apply sanctions is having a hugely damaging impact on the Iranian economy. Iran is pushing back. Given the highly fragile and volatile situation in the Gulf, together with the desperate need to bolster the flagging Iran nuclear deal, was it sensible to detain the vessel carrying Iranian oil off Gibraltar? Ships must fly the flag of a nation state, explains Richard Meade, managing editor of maritime intelligence publication Lloyd's List. They must be registered in a country, but that doesn't have to be the same country as its owners, or have any relation to the cargo, he says. But there must be some link to the UK. \"But how you define UK is relative,\" Mr Meade says. The Stena Impero is Swedish-owned and those on board are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino. But it's the UK flag that is important symbolically, he says. \"Historically speaking it means that the UK owes protection to the vessel.\" \"The UK has political responsibilities to anything that is flagged. And that's why it's much more serious than if there just happened to be a British captain on board.\" He emphasises that while it was a political issue, the impact on trade in the region had so far been minimal. But he warns that if the international community began viewing the Strait of Hormuz as a dangerous place to be, that could create a \"very different\" scenario. The defence, intelligence and diplomatic figures attending the government's Cobra crisis meetings over Iran are facing a tricky dilemma. Clearly, British-flagged or owned shipping in the Gulf needs protecting but the Royal Navy does not have enough surface ships to do the job alone. So this would have to be part of a multinational force like the proposed Operation Sentinel being discussed by US Central Command. The US Navy has plenty of ships in the Gulf - its powerful 5th Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain - but here lies the problem. Britain and its EU partners are not on the same page as Washington when it comes to the wider policy of dealing with Iran. The US has pulled out of the nuclear deal, while Europe is trying to keep it alive. So there is a reluctance by some on this side of the Atlantic to be identified too closely with a hawkish US posture towards Iran or take any actions that may be interpreted as escalating an already volatile situation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2491, "answer_start": 755, "text": "The Stena Impero was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday in a key waterway in the Gulf. The tanker was surrounded by four vessels and a helicopter before heading into Iranian waters, Mr Hunt said. \"We are not looking at military options,\" he said. \"We are looking at a diplomatic way to resolve this situation.\" A senior Iranian diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office in London following the ship's seizure. Mr Hunt confirmed he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart on Saturday afternoon. He said he expressed \"extreme disappointment that having assured me last Saturday Iran wanted to de-escalate the situation they have behaved in the opposite way.\" He also tweeted: \"Yesterday's action in Gulf shows worrying signs Iran may be choosing a dangerous path of illegal and destabilising behaviour after Gibraltar's legal detention of oil bound for Syria.\" Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also demanded the release of the tanker and its crew, urging all sides to \"show restraint\". He added in a tweet: \"Trump tearing up the Iran nuclear deal has fuelled confrontation.\" Another emergency Cobra committee meeting is due to be held later. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said the tanker was seized after it collided with a fishing boat and failed to respond to calls from the smaller craft. The vessel's owners said it was fully complying with regulations and was in international waters when it was approached. Stena Bulk said the 23 crew members, who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino, were in good health. It said it was preparing a formal request to visit those onboard the seized ship. A UK government spokeswoman told the BBC: \"We have advised UK shipping to stay out of the area for an interim period.\"" } ], "id": "198_0", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3044, "answer_start": 2492, "text": "Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted that the UK \"must cease being an accessory to #EconomicTerrorism of the US\". He said it was Iran that guarantees the security of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. \"Unlike the piracy in the Strait of Gibraltar, our action in the Persian Gulf is to uphold international maritime rules,\" he said. Abbasali Kadkhodaei, spokesman of the state watchdog the Guardian Council, said on Twitter that \"the law of retaliation is a recognised concept in international law\" shortly after the ship's seizure was announced." } ], "id": "198_1", "question": "What does Iran say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4376, "answer_start": 3045, "text": "The latest developments come amid a deterioration in relations between Iran and the UK and US. Tensions between the US and Iran have risen sharply since April, when the US tightened sanctions it had reimposed on Iran after unilaterally withdrawing from a 2015 nuclear deal. The US blamed Iran for attacks on tankers in the world's key shipping area since May. Tehran denies all the accusations. On Friday, the US claimed to have destroyed an Iranian drone in the Gulf. Unlike the US, the UK government remains committed to the landmark nuclear deal, which curbs Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions tensions. However, the UK infuriated Iran after its Royal Marines helped seize an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar earlier this month. On Friday, Gibraltar granted a 30-day extension to allow authorities to continue detaining the tanker, which was suspected of carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. In retaliation for the seizure of Grace 1, Iran threatened to seize a British oil tanker. A week later, Iranian boats attempted to impede a British oil tanker in the region before being warned off by a Royal Navy ship, according to the Ministry of Defence. Iran denied any attempted seizure. Since then, the threat level to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf has remained at \"critical\"." } ], "id": "198_2", "question": "What's the background to this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7168, "answer_start": 6130, "text": "Ships must fly the flag of a nation state, explains Richard Meade, managing editor of maritime intelligence publication Lloyd's List. They must be registered in a country, but that doesn't have to be the same country as its owners, or have any relation to the cargo, he says. But there must be some link to the UK. \"But how you define UK is relative,\" Mr Meade says. The Stena Impero is Swedish-owned and those on board are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino. But it's the UK flag that is important symbolically, he says. \"Historically speaking it means that the UK owes protection to the vessel.\" \"The UK has political responsibilities to anything that is flagged. And that's why it's much more serious than if there just happened to be a British captain on board.\" He emphasises that while it was a political issue, the impact on trade in the region had so far been minimal. But he warns that if the international community began viewing the Strait of Hormuz as a dangerous place to be, that could create a \"very different\" scenario." } ], "id": "198_3", "question": "How 'British' is the tanker?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that the social network \"made mistakes\" that led to millions of Facebook users having their data exploited by a political consultancy. Cambridge Analytica is accused of improperly using the data on behalf of political clients. In a statement, Mr Zuckerberg said a \"breach of trust\" had occurred. In a later interview with CNN he said he was \"really sorry\", and pledged to take action against \"rogue apps\". He added that he was \"happy\" to testify before Congress \"if it's the right thing to do\". In his statement posted on Facebook, he promised to make it far harder for apps to \"harvest\" user information. \"We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can't then we don't deserve to serve you,\" Mr Zuckerberg said. To address current and past problems, Mr Zuckerberg said his company would: - investigate all Facebook apps that had access to large amounts of information before the platform was changed \"to dramatically reduce data access\" in 2014 - conduct a \"full forensic audit\" of any app with suspicious activity - ban any developer that did not agree to a thorough audit - ban developers that had misused personally identifiable information, and \"tell everyone affected by those apps\" In future, he said Facebook would: - restrict developers' data access \"even further\" to prevent other kinds of abuse - remove developers' access to a user's data if the user hadn't activated the developer's app for three months - reduce the data that users give an app when they sign in to just name, profile photo, and email address - require developers to obtain approval and also sign a contract in order to ask anyone for access to their posts or other private data Mr Zuckerberg added: \"While this specific issue involving Cambridge Analytica should no longer happen with new apps today, that doesn't change what happened in the past. \"We will learn from this experience to secure our platform further and make our community safer for everyone going forward.\" Analysis by Dave Lee, BBC North America technology reporter, at Facebook's headquarters I read one thing loud and clear from Mr Zuckerberg's initial statement: Facebook is not prepared to take the blame for what has happened. Contrition has never been Mr Zuckerberg's strong point, and the statement, days in the making, was no different. No apology to users, investors or staff over how this incident was allowed to happen by the data policies in place at the time. No explanation as to why, after learning its data was being abused like this in 2014, it opted to give the companies a telling off instead of banning them outright. No reasoning as to why Facebook failed to inform users their data may have been affected. Technically, it still hasn't. Mr Zuckerberg's words were not an explanation, but a legal and political defence. This company knows it is heading into battle on multiple fronts. Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC In 2014, Facebook invited users to find out their personality type via a quiz developed by Cambridge University researcher Dr Aleksandr Kogan called This is Your Digital Life. About 270,000 users' data was collected, but the app also collected some public data from users' friends. Facebook has since changed the amount of data developers can gather in this way, but a whistleblower, Christopher Wylie, says the data of about 50 million people was harvested for Cambridge Analytica before the rules on user consent were tightened up. Mr Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica - which has no connection with Cambridge University - which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them. The firm's chief executive, Alexander Nix - who was suspended on Tuesday - was secretly recorded in a Channel 4 investigation saying the London-based company ran Donald Trump's digital campaign during the 2016 US election. \"We did all the research, all the data, all the analytics, all the targeting, we ran all the digital campaign, the television campaign and our data informed all the strategy,\" he added. Dr Kogan has said he was told by Cambridge Analytica everything they had done was legal, and that he was being made a \"scapegoat\" by the firm and Facebook. Cambridge Analytica denies any wrongdoing. Facebook says users' data was obtained legitimately but Cambridge Analytica failed to delete it when told to do so. For its part, Cambridge Analytica says it did delete the data when told to by Facebook. It suspended Mr Nix following his comments which appeared to suggest tactics his company could use to discredit politicians online. However, the firm said the report of comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 News had \"grossly misrepresented\" Mr Nix's comments. US senators have called on Mr Zuckerberg to testify before Congress about how his company will protect users, while consumer watchdog the US Federal Trade Commission has reportedly opened an investigation into Facebook. The head of the European Parliament also said it would investigate to see if the data was misused. The UK's Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham is attempting to obtain a warrant to search the offices of Cambridge Analytica. Meanwhile, a UK parliamentary committee has called for Mr Zuckerberg to give evidence about its use of personal data. There have also been calls for an investigation into the work Cambridge Analytica carried out during the 2013 election in Kenya.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2013, "answer_start": 773, "text": "To address current and past problems, Mr Zuckerberg said his company would: - investigate all Facebook apps that had access to large amounts of information before the platform was changed \"to dramatically reduce data access\" in 2014 - conduct a \"full forensic audit\" of any app with suspicious activity - ban any developer that did not agree to a thorough audit - ban developers that had misused personally identifiable information, and \"tell everyone affected by those apps\" In future, he said Facebook would: - restrict developers' data access \"even further\" to prevent other kinds of abuse - remove developers' access to a user's data if the user hadn't activated the developer's app for three months - reduce the data that users give an app when they sign in to just name, profile photo, and email address - require developers to obtain approval and also sign a contract in order to ask anyone for access to their posts or other private data Mr Zuckerberg added: \"While this specific issue involving Cambridge Analytica should no longer happen with new apps today, that doesn't change what happened in the past. \"We will learn from this experience to secure our platform further and make our community safer for everyone going forward.\"" } ], "id": "199_0", "question": "What has Zuckerberg pledged to do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4254, "answer_start": 2952, "text": "In 2014, Facebook invited users to find out their personality type via a quiz developed by Cambridge University researcher Dr Aleksandr Kogan called This is Your Digital Life. About 270,000 users' data was collected, but the app also collected some public data from users' friends. Facebook has since changed the amount of data developers can gather in this way, but a whistleblower, Christopher Wylie, says the data of about 50 million people was harvested for Cambridge Analytica before the rules on user consent were tightened up. Mr Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica - which has no connection with Cambridge University - which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them. The firm's chief executive, Alexander Nix - who was suspended on Tuesday - was secretly recorded in a Channel 4 investigation saying the London-based company ran Donald Trump's digital campaign during the 2016 US election. \"We did all the research, all the data, all the analytics, all the targeting, we ran all the digital campaign, the television campaign and our data informed all the strategy,\" he added. Dr Kogan has said he was told by Cambridge Analytica everything they had done was legal, and that he was being made a \"scapegoat\" by the firm and Facebook." } ], "id": "199_1", "question": "What is the row about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4763, "answer_start": 4255, "text": "Cambridge Analytica denies any wrongdoing. Facebook says users' data was obtained legitimately but Cambridge Analytica failed to delete it when told to do so. For its part, Cambridge Analytica says it did delete the data when told to by Facebook. It suspended Mr Nix following his comments which appeared to suggest tactics his company could use to discredit politicians online. However, the firm said the report of comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 News had \"grossly misrepresented\" Mr Nix's comments." } ], "id": "199_2", "question": "How has Cambridge Analytica responded?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5460, "answer_start": 4764, "text": "US senators have called on Mr Zuckerberg to testify before Congress about how his company will protect users, while consumer watchdog the US Federal Trade Commission has reportedly opened an investigation into Facebook. The head of the European Parliament also said it would investigate to see if the data was misused. The UK's Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham is attempting to obtain a warrant to search the offices of Cambridge Analytica. Meanwhile, a UK parliamentary committee has called for Mr Zuckerberg to give evidence about its use of personal data. There have also been calls for an investigation into the work Cambridge Analytica carried out during the 2013 election in Kenya." } ], "id": "199_3", "question": "What investigations are under way?" } ] } ]